Integration of Presumptive Transfer through Interagency Collaboration

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

San Bernardino County established a system of inter-agency collaboration in July 2017 to successfully implement Presumptive Transfer – a measure under Assembly Bill (AB) 1299, which requires County Mental Health Plans (MHPs) to provide and pay for Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) for most of the foster children placed in their counties. San Bernardino County integrated the presumptive transfer process into its newly-established mental health Referral, Screening, Assessment, and Treatment (RSAT) process and immediately recognized that even with state guidance, effectiveness of this policy depended on interagency and inter-county collaboration. The County therefore effectively organized collaborative groups to inform and refine process implementation and improvements. These efforts led to thousands of children placed out of county being properly connected to the appropriate MHP and improved access to services.