(a) Notwithstanding any other law, commencing January 1, 2017, no new group home rate or change to an existing rate shall be established pursuant to the Rate Classification Level (RCL) system. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department may grant an exception as appropriate, on a case-by-case basis, when a written request and supporting documentation are provided by a county placing agency, including a county welfare or probation director, that absent the granting of that exception, there is a material risk to the welfare of children due to an inadequate supply of appropriate alternative placement options to meet the needs of children. (c) For group homes being paid under the RCL system, and those granted an exception pursuant to paragraph (b), group home rates shall terminate on December 31, 2016, unless granted an extension under the exception process in subdivision (d) or (e). (d) A group home may request an exception to extend its rate as follows: (1) The department may grant an extension for up to two years, through December 31, 2018, except as provided in paragraph (2), on a case-by-case basis, when a written request and supporting documentation are provided by a county placing agency, including a county welfare or probation director, that absent the granting of that exception, there is a material risk to the welfare of children due to an inadequate supply of appropriate alternative placement options to meet the needs of children. The exception may include time to meet the program accreditation requirement or the mental health certification requirement. (A) The department may grant an additional extension to a group home beyond December 31, 2018, upon a county child welfare agency submitting a written request on behalf of a provider and providing documentation in a format to be determined by the department pursuant to subparagraph (B). If granted, the extension requests shall be provided in increments up to six months and may be renewed by the department if the documentation is provided. Extensions granted pursuant to this subparagraph shall not exceed a total of 12 months. (B) In order to be eligible to maintain placement of placed foster youth in a group home receiving an extension pursuant to subparagraph (A), the county child welfare agency, in partnership with the county mental health plan, shall submit a plan to the department by August 15, 2018. This plan shall do all of the following: (i) Describe the agencyâs plan to transition all foster youth under the jurisdiction of the county residing in group homes into a home-based placement, or, if determined by the interagency placement committee, to a licensed short-term residential therapeutic program (STRTP) within the extension period. (ii) Address the need, availability, and capacity of STRTPs and other therapeutic placement options for the youth under the jurisdiction of the county and document prior and ongoing efforts taken to solicit or develop needed STRTP capacity. (iii) Develop and document child specific transition plans that include a description of all of the following: (I) Intensive family finding and engagement for every child lacking an identified home-based caregiver, including those youth identified for STRTP transition. (II) Child and family team-driven case plans that identify and respond to barriers to home-based placement. (III) Documentation of the trauma-informed and permanency-competent specialty mental health services to be provided, including wraparound, collateral, intensive care coordination and intensive home-based services, and therapeutic behavioral services. (iv) Document efforts to expand or establish intensive services foster care, therapeutic foster care programs, and other home-based services that provide timely access to trauma-informed care, in conjunction with the county behavioral health department. (v) Detail any barriers to achieving the goals in clauses (i) to (iv), inclusive, that have led the county to support th
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