Human Services

Overview

The 2020‑21 spending plan provides nearly $18 billion from the General Fund for human services programs. This is an increase of $1.9 billion, or nearly 12 percent, compared to the revised prior-year spending level, as shown in Figure 1. This is primarily the result of higher spending in the Department of Developmental Services, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program, and the In-Home Supportive Services program, largely reflecting increasing caseloads, costs per consumer, and labor costs in these program areas. Figure 2 shows the major human services policy changes adopted by the Legislature as part of the 2020‑21 spending plan. These changes are discussed in more detail in the issue specific links provided on this page.

Figure 1

Major Human Services Programs and Departments—Spending Trends

General Fund (Dollars in Millions)

	2019‑20	2020‑21	Change From 2019‑20 to 2020‑21
	2019‑20	2020‑21	Amount	Percent
Department of Developmental Services	$5,023.6	$5,877.8	$854.2	17.0%
In‑Home Supportive Services	4,302.8	4,460.8	158.1	3.7
SSI/SSP	2,732.2	2,699.3	‑32.9	‑1.2
County Administration/Automation	831.9	940.6	108.7	13.1
Child welfare servicesa	684.9	817.9	133.0	19.4
CalWORKs	1,000.5	2,012.7	1,012.2	101.2
Department of Child Support Services	340.9	315.0	‑25.9	‑7.6
Department of Rehabilitation	74.7	75.9	1.2	1.6
Department of Aging	84.3	68.0	‑16.3	‑19.3
All other social services (including state support)	972.4	684.6	‑287.8	‑29.6
Totals	$16,048.2	$17,952.7	$1,904.5	11.9%
aIncludes the Approved Relative Caregiver program, Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment program, and Adoption Assistance Program, in addition to foster care payments, programs for non‑minor dependents, and other special programs.

Figure 2

Major Actions—Human Services Programs

2020‑21 General Fund Effect (In Millions)a

Program	Amount
Safety Net Reserve
Makes a withdrawal from the Safety Net Reserve	‑$450.0b
CalWORKs
Funds automation to eventually extend CalWORKs lifetime limits	$2.6
Temporarily eliminates funding for CalWORKs Outcomes and Accountability Review	‑20.0
Delays intended ramp up of CalWORKs Home Visiting Program	‑30.0
In‑Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
Provides funding to restore IHSS service hours previously reduced by 7 percent	$410.0
Reduces General Fund spending one time due to enhanced Medicaid reimbursement	‑830.6
Provides one‑time funding for temporary federal paid sick leave and back‑up provider system	26.9
Holds county administration and public authority funding to 2019 budget act levels	‑12.2
Provides ongoing funding to no longer prorate hours for certain protective supervision cases	15.8
Provides funding for mandatory social worker and managers training	1.9
Provides funding for Electronic Visit Verification administration and system changes	7.6
Child Welfare Services
Retains Placement Prior to Approval funding for relative caregivers for up to 120 days plus option for extension	$31.7c
Expands Extended Foster Care eligibility for youth who otherwise would age out or lose eligibility, in response to COVID‑19	32.0
Establishes a rate supplement for THP‑NMD placements in high‑cost counties	4.0
Provides one‑time funding to be allocated to counties for certain child welfare activities (CCR reconciliation)	80.0
Food Assistance
Supports statewide network of food banks to address COVID‑19‑related hunger issues	$50.0
Other Department of Social Services
Provides funding for COVID‑19‑related outreach to disproportionately Affected Communities	$30.0
Department of Child Support Services
Reduces funding for administrative costs of Local Child Support Agencies to 2018 Budget Act levels	‑$19.1
Reduces funding for Department of Child Support Services’ state operations and interagency contracts	‑8.4
Department of Aging
Provides scheduled increase to funding for the Long‑Term Care Ombudsman Program	$1.0
Developmental Services
Repays federal government for erroneous Medicaid claiming	$307.4d
Provides one‑time funding for COVID‑19 impacts	237.5
Delays enforcement of uniform holiday schedule	31.3e
Provides one‑time funding for warm shutdown costs at Fairview DC	12.0
Increases provider rates in three service areas	10.8f
Adds 20 beds at Porterville DC through June 2024 for individuals in the incompetent to stand trial program	8.9
Provides one‑time funding to develop five specialized homes with delayed egress and secured perimeter	7.5
Provides one‑time funding for federal penalties associated with electronic visit verification delays	5.1
Provides ongoing self‑determination program implementation funding	3.1
Provides funding to lease and furnish new Southern California DDS headquarters office	1.6g
Increases funding for Regional Resource Development Project to serve former DC residents	1.1
Provides funding for DDS headquarters relocation activities	0.9
Provides one‑time funding for Electronic Visit Verification phase II planning	0.6
Provides ongoing funding for information security office activities	0.2
Reduces General Fund spending one‑time due to enhanced Medicaid reimbursement	‑370.8
Rehabilitation
Provides ongoing funding for information security activities	$0.7
aincludes General Fund that may be offset by federal Coronavirus Relief Funds. bReserve now has a balance of $450 million which is available for either CalWORKs or Medi‑Cal. cAmount reflects the total state cost of Placement Prior to Approval Funding, which funds the placement for up to 120 days, plus the option for a good‑cause extension. Without the policy change, funding would have been available for up to 90 days only. dRepays federal government for claiming errors in previous years and provides ongoing funding beginning in 2020‑21 to backfill federal reimbursements. eUniform holiday schedule subject to possible reinstatement after December 31, 2021. fAmount reflects half‑year costs (rates take effect in January 2021). Increases are subject to possible suspension on December 31, 2021. gAmount declines in 2021‑22 and ongoing.
COVID‑19 = coronavirus disease 2019; THP‑NMD = Transitional Housing Placement for Non‑Minor Dependents; CCR = Continuum of Care Reform; DC = developmental center; and DDS = Department of Developmental Services.

Table of Contents

Budget and Policy Post

The 2020-21 Spending Plan

Human Services

Overview