Human Services

Overview

The 2023-24 spending plan provides over $30 billion from the General Fund for human services programs. This is an increase of nearly $7 billion, or 30 percent, compared to the revised prior-year spending level, as shown in Figure 1. This significant increase is primarily the result of higher spending in several different departments and programs. Some key examples of the drivers of the year-over-year increases are (1) shifting child care program funds that likely would not have been spent in 2022-23 to 2023-24, (2) increased caseload (alongside increased service provider rates and changes in service utilization) for the Department of Developmental Services, (3) the phase out of enhanced federal funding and increase in caseload in In-Home Supportive Services, and (4) the expiration of some federal funding that was offsetting General Fund costs in the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program. Figure 2 shows the major human services policy changes adopted by the Legislature as part of the 2023-24 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)

	2022‑23	2023‑24	Change From 2022‑23 to 2023‑24
	2022‑23	2023‑24	Amount	Percent
Department of Developmental Services	$7,051.1	$8,544.9	$1,493.8	21.2%
In‑Home Supportive Services	6,134.9	8,363.0	2,228.2	36.3
SSI/SSP	3,289.0	3,553.8	264.8	8.1
Department of Social Services Child Carea	933.5	3,267.8	2,334.3	250.0
County Administration/Automation	1,221.0	1,411.0	190.0	15.6
Child Welfare Servicesb	1,415.0	1,061.0	‑354.0	‑25.0
CalWORKs	611.9	1,396.8	784.9	128.3
Department of Child Support Services	366.2	378.6	12.4	3.4
Department of Rehabilitation	101.7	82.2	‑19.6	‑19.2
Department of Aging	265.9	180.9	‑85.0	‑32.0
All other social services (including state support)	2,527.4	2,599.8	72.5	2.9
Totals	$23,917.6	$30,839.9	$6,922.3	28.9%
aReflects budgetary expenditure levels as of June 2023 and excludes Proposition 98 funds. bIncludes 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, child welfare automation, and other special programs.

Figure 2

Major Actions—Human Services Programsa

2023‑24 General Fund Effect (In Millions)

Program	Amount
CalWORKs
Makes temporary 10 percent CalWORKs grant increase from 2022‑23 permanent	—b
Temporarily augments county‑level CalWORKs administrative funding	$15.7
Funds effort to enhance EBT card technology and security over next three years	15.5
One‑time early reversion of unspent Single Allocation funds	‑288.0
In‑Home Supportive Services
Requires study of statewide and/or regional collective bargaining model	1.5
Eliminates minor recipient provider eligibility requirements	27.9
SSI/SSP
Increases SSP, CAPI, and CVCB grants on January 1, 2024	146.0
Child Welfare Services
CWS‑CARES project increase	67.0
CWS‑CARES and CalSAWS interface	25.0
One‑time funding increase for foster family agencies	8.0
Child welfare costs under BH‑CONNECT proposalc	3.0
SILP housing supplementd	1.0
Food Assistance
Increases county CalFresh administration funding through revised funding methodology	160.0
California Food Assistance Program expansion	40.0
Summer EBT Program outreach and automation resources	23.5
Temporarily augments state support for food banks	52.0
Other Department of Social Services
One‑time Rapid Response program augmentation	150.0
Services for survivors of hate crimes	80.0
Augmentation for Opportunities for Youth program for unaccompanied minors	5.0
Department of Child Support Services
Funding increase for local child support agencies	12.2
Department of Aging
$50 million over three years for Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative	20.0
Developmental Services
Reduce service coordinator‑to‑child caseload ratios for children ages zero to five	57.9
Safety net services to further support individuals with complex needs	22.1
Coordinated Family Support pilot program (for one year)	10.8
Service provider rate increases for Independent Living Services	8.5
aDoes not include major Child Care changes. b2024‑25 General fund effect of over $400 million depending on caseload and other factors. cIncreases to about $30 million at full implementation. dIncreases to $18.8 million annually at full implementation.
EBT = Electronic Benefit Transfer; CAPI = Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants; CVCB = California Veterans Cash Benefit; CWS‑CARES = Child Welfare Services ‑ California Automated Response and Engagement System; CalSAWS = California Statewide Automated Welfare System; BH‑CONNECT = Behavioral Health Community‑Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment; and SILP = supervised independent living placement.

Table of Contents

Budget and Policy Post

The 2023-24 California Spending Plan

Human Services

Overview