State outlines no‑wrong‑door plan for aging and disability services; seeks more ADRC funding

Officials from the California Department of Aging (CDA) told the Assembly subcommittees that a No Wrong Door (NWD) system to help older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers navigate services can be implemented administratively but will require coordination and funding to scale.

CDA chief deputy Mark Beckley described the four core NWD components observed in other states: a central searchable website and provider directory, skilled aging and disability resource navigators, a statewide provider network, and consistent branding and outreach. CDA said it has used a $5 million home and community‑based services allocation to build a statewide data repository that will aggregate program information and help identify gaps in service capacity.

CDA recommended using memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with local partners to clarify roles as the system develops; the department said it does not believe legislation is strictly necessary to start the work but acknowledged MOUs or statutory clarifications could help solidify long‑term operations. Christina Mills of the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging (C4A) urged the committee to fund ADRC expansion: the state currently provides about $10 million annually for ADRCs and C4A requested an additional $15 million for 2025–26 as a down payment toward a $62 million fully built program that would serve as the foundation for a statewide NWD approach.

Assembly members asked for clearer milestones and for the Legislative Analyst’s Office to help translate CDA’s administrative plan into specific statutory or budget language the Legislature could consider if it chose to codify aspects of the system. CDA said it will continue to develop operational standards and a leadership council with state partners including the Department of Rehabilitation, DHCS and DSS.