Human Services

Overview

The 2021‑22 spending plan provides just over $23 billion from the General Fund for human services programs. This is an increase of over $6 billion, or 37 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) the transition of child care programs from the California Department of Education to the Department of Social Services (DSS), (2) the initial phase of a five year rate reform plan in the Department of Developmental Services, (3) increased funding for existing homelessness assistance programs in DSS, and (4) funding for the implementation of new federal requirements and continued coronavirus disease 2019 response efforts in child welfare. 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)

	2020‑21	2021‑22	Change From 2020‑21 to 2021‑22
	2020‑21	2021‑22	Amount	Percent
Department of Developmental Services	$5,837.6	$6,737.0	$899.5	15.4%
In‑Home Supportive Services	4,368.0a	5,556.4	1,188.3	27.2
SSI/SSP	3,428.2b	2,922.5	‑505.7	‑14.8
Department of Social Services Child Carec	n/a	1,879.0	1,879.0	n/a
Child welfare servicesd	770.2	1,544.0	773.8	100.5
CalWORKs	671.5	1,099.5	428.0	63.7
County Administration/Automation	911.6	983.6	72.0	7.9
Department of Child Support Services	315.4	343.6	28.2	8.9
Department of Rehabilitation	73.4	86.8	13.4	18.3
Department of Aging	67.5	292.7e	225.1	333.5
All other social services (including state support)	582.6	1,923.4	1,340.8	230.1
Totals	$17,025.8	$23,368.2	$6,342.4	37.3%
aDoes not include over $1 billion in additional one‑time General Fund offset in 2021‑22 resulting from the temporary 10 percentage point increase to the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentages in effect until March 31, 2022. bIncludes one‑time funding to issue Golden State Stimulus payments to SSI/SSP recipients in 2020‑21. cFunding for child care was transferred from the California Department of Education to the Department of Social Services beginning in 2021‑22. dIncludes 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. eDoes not include $191 million General Fund offset in 2021‑22 resulting from the Home‑ and Community‑Based Services (HCBS) American Rescue Plan Fund covering costs associated with new HCBS enhancements and expansions in the Department of Aging.

Figure 2

Major Actions—Human Services Programsa

2021‑22 General Fund Effect (In Millions)

Program	Amount
CalWORKs
Provides funding for Intensive Case Management Services	$37.5
Increases funding for pregnant women receiving CalWORKs	17.0
Provides funding for Racial Equity and Implicit Bias Training for county CalWORKs staff	3.0
Creates statewide promotional campaign	2.0
Increases income eligibility threshold for CalWORKs applicants	1.0b
In‑Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
Reduces General Fund spending one time due to enhanced Medicaid reimbursement	‑$465.3c
Provides funding to permanently restore IHSS service hours	455.9
Maintains historical state and county cost‑sharing ratios for IHSS wage and benefit increases	57.3
Provides temporary funding for delayed electronic visit verification implementation federal penalty	42.2
Increases county administrative and public authority funding based on estimated caseload growth since 2019‑20	15.2
Provides ongoing funding to implement a permanent back‑up provider system	5.9
Creates IHSS electronic forms	5.0
Provides temporary funding for electronic visit verification implementation	1.2
Child Welfare Services
Continues pandemic response, including one‑time payments to resource families and expansion of EFC, among other initiatives	$232.3
Provides one‑time funding to implement FFPSA Part I	222.4
Provides one‑time funding to build capacity to serve foster youth with complex care needs in state	139.2
Provides one‑time funds for counties for CWS activities	85.0
Provides ongoing funding to implement FFPSA Part IV	31.8
Provides transitional support for STRTPs that lose federal funding due to IMD determinations	10.4
Continues CalWORKs assistance for up to six months for families participating in Family Reunification	8.8
Food Assistance
Fund Food Bank infrastructure projects	$150.0
Augment funding for food purchases and logistics	80.0
Funds disaster resiliency needs for food banks	31.0
Funds Diaper Assistance for food and diaper banks	30.0
Funds building purchase for Los Angeles Food Bank	6.0
Expands California Food Assistance Program eligibility to previously ineligible	5.0d
Funds menstrual product pilot project in San Diego and Los Angeles	2.0
Homelessness
Expands CalWORKs Housing Support Program	$190.0
Provides funding for Project Roomkey	150.0
Provides temporary funding for Housing and Disability Advocacy Program	150.0
Provides temporary funding for Home Safe program	92.5
Provides temporary augmentation for Bringing Families Home program	92.5
Other Department of Social Services
Increases SSP, CAPI, and CVCB grants by 23.95 percent for all grant recipients on January 1, 2022	$291.3
Expands services and eligibility in Adult Protective Services program	70.0
Funds California Guaranteed Income Pilot Program	35.0
Temporarily pauses Transitional Nutrition Benefit terminations and expand recertification time frame	5.6
Department of Child Support Services
Restores total funding for local child support agencies to 2019‑20 Budget Act levels	$19.1
Provides ongoing funding for local child support courts	4.1
Provides ongoing funding for Department of Child Support Services’ state operations	4.0
Provides one‑time funding for uncollectibility study	0.1
Provides one‑time funding to cease enforcement efforts on uncollectible state‑owed child support debt	0.1
Department of Aging
Provides ongoing funding for senior nutrition program	$23.2
Provides ongoing funding for No Wrong Door/Aging and Disability Resource Connection centers	7.0
Increase Multipurpose Senior Services Program slots	6.3
Increase ongoing baseline funding for Area Agencies on Aging	3.3
Provides ongoing funding for Master Plan for Aging implementation	3.3
Provides ongoing funding to create Office of Long‑Term Care Patient Representative	2.5
Provides ongoing funding for CalFresh outreach efforts	1.1
Provides ongoing funding to address CBAS certification backlog	0.8
Developmental Services
Eliminates suspension of rate increases and repeals uniform holiday schedule	$309.6
Begins five‑year phase‑in of service provider rate reform and quality incentive program	89.9e
Grants provisional Lanterman Act eligibility for qualifying children ages 3 and 4	23.8
Restores social recreation, camping services, educational services, and non‑medical therapies	19.0f
Funds COVID‑19 direct response expenditures	15.0
Enhances service coordination for consumers with low to no purchase‑of‑service expenditures	10.0
Supports language access and cultural competency in the regional center system	10.0
Provides one‑time funding for grants to increase consumer employment opportunities	10.0
Provides one‑time funding for an outcomes and quality improvement pilot project	10.0
Expands Systematic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources, and Treatment crisis teams	8.0g
Provides funding for Self‑Determination Program supports	7.8
Funds implicit bias training for regional center staff	5.6
Funds third phase of DDS relocation to the new Clifford L. Allenby Building	5.2h
Provides one‑time funding for emergency preparedness resources	4.3
Provides funding for regional center performance incentives program	4.0i
Supports services for youth returning from out‑of‑state foster care placements	3.5
Funds community navigators program	3.2
Supports facilitation of health and safety waivers for underserved consumers	3.0
Funds training and certification for direct service professionals	2.9j
Funds a wage differential for direct support professionals who are bilingual	2.2k
Funds services and supports for consumers who are deaf	1.8
Funds an emergency coordinator at each regional center	1.4
Provides funding for a forensic diversion program	0.9
Provides funding for DDS to conduct outreach to tribal communities about the Early Start program	0.5
aDoes not include 2021‑22 budget actions that ultimately will be funded through the Home and Community‑Based Services American Rescue Plan Fund (listed in The 2021‑22 California Spending Plan: Home‑ and Community‑Based Services Spending Plan.) bBy 2023‑24, funding will increase to $135.1million General Fund ongoing. cDoes not include over $1 billion in additional one‑time General Fund offset resulting from the temporary 10 percentage point increase to the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentages. dBy 2023‑24, funding will increase to $280 million General Fund ongoing (subject to appropriation). eBy 2025‑26, funding will increase to $1.2 billion General Fund ongoing. fBy 2023‑24, funding will increase to $36.8 million General Fund ongoing as services are fully restored. gIn 2022‑23, funding increases to $11 million General Fund ongoing. hBy 2023‑24, funding declines to $4.7 million General Fund ongoing. iIn 2022‑23, funding increases to $61 million General Fund ongoing for hiring regional center service coordinators. jBy 2023‑24, funding will increase to $51 million General Fund ongoing to provide higher wages to certified individuals. kBy 2023‑24, funding will increase to $6.5 million General Fund ongoing.
FFPSA = Family First Prevention Services Act; EFC = extended foster care; CWS = Child Welfare Services; STRTPs = Short‑Term Residential Therapeutic Programs; IMD = Institution for Mental Disease; SSP = State Supplementary Payment; CAPI = Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants; CVCB = California Veterans Cash Benefit; CBAS = Community‑Based Adult Services; COVID‑19 = coronavirus disease 2019; and DDS = Department of Developmental Services.

Table of Contents

Budget and Policy Post

The 2021-22 California Spending Plan

Human Services

Overview