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CDSS, DHCS plan BH Connect rollout and push for a unified CANS tool to reduce duplication

2602518 · March 12, 2025

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Summary

Officials described BH Connect activities — joint visits, activity stipends and family-maintenance team meetings — and said CDSS and DHCS will align CANS training and automation to avoid duplicate assessments across child‑welfare and behavioral‑health systems.

CDSS and county representatives described BH Connect — a set of initiatives under CalAIM intended to better link county behavioral health and child‑welfare systems — and said the departments are coordinating guidance and automation with TRS implementation and CWS CARES.

Angie Schwartz of CDSS said the department and the Department of Health Care Services will release a two‑phase alignment plan for the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment. Phase 1 will align training, timelines and qualifications; Phase 2 will align the tool and automation. CDSS expects Phase 1 guidance in the second quarter of 2025 and Phase 2 aligned with CWS CARES automation in the fourth quarter of 2026.

County representatives and CWDA supported a "one CANS" approach to reduce redundancies and improve timely data entry. Diana Boyer said a unified tool would support stronger outcome measurement and suggested the 1‑CANS implementation occur prior to the TRS go‑live so counties can adapt local procedures.

CDSS and DHCS are also coordinating the youth activity funds (to be used for enrichment and supports) with TRS strength‑building dollars, and will issue a joint request for information to identify fiscal managers for those funds. CDSS said guidance for BH Connect activity funds is expected by July 2025.

Counties urged strong operational coordination across DHCS, CDSS and managed‑care plans to ensure joint home visits, respite and additional supports are feasible locally. LAO asked for clarity about assumed start dates and any budget scoring effects if activities ramp slowly this fiscal year.