FINDING

CARE
NEAR ME
A FAC T S H E E T TO H E L P YO U AC C E S S
M E N TA L H E A LT H C A R E T H R O U G H
K AT I E A . S E RV I C E S

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ARE YOU A YOUNG PERSON STRUGGLING WITH
A N X I E T Y, D E P R E S S I O N , O R A N O T H E R M E N TA L
H E A LT H C O N D I T I O N ?

T H I S FAC T S HEET IS INTENDED FOR YOUNG P EOP LE UNDE R 2 1 WHO H AV E

B EE N S TRU G G LING WITH A MENTAL HE ALT H CONDIT ION, LIKE ANXIE T Y O R
DE P R E S S I O N, AND AR E LO O K ING FOR HE LP. IF T HIS SOUNDS LIKE SOM E T HI NG
YO U A R E E X P ER IENC ING , YO U MIGHT QUALIF Y FOR A SP ECIF IC T Y P E OF F R E E
M E N TA L H E A LT H S E R V I C E DES I GNE D TO ME E T YOUR UNIQUE NE E DS A ND
P RE F E R E N C ES . THESE S ERVICES ARE CALLE D K AT I E A . OR PAT H WAY S TO
WELLBEING SERVICES.

I N O R DE R TO Q UALIFY, YO U NEE D TO BE YO U N G E R T H A N A G E 2 1 AND M US T

H AV E M E D I - C A L (CALIFO R NIA’S P UBLIC HE ALT H INSURANCE P ROGRAM ) O R
B E E L I G I B L E FO R MEDI- C AL. A M E NTAL HE ALT H P ROF E SSIONAL MUST A L S O
DE T E R M I N E THAT YO U NEED TH E SE RVICE S.

REA D O N TO FIG U R E O U T IF THESE SE RVICE S MIGHT HE LP YOU, AND H OW YO U

C AN ACC E S S THEM!

W H A T E X A C T LY A R E K A T I E A . S E R V I C E S ?

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 A B O U T K AT I E A .

*
“Katie A.” was a young person in foster care in
California who experienced a lot of hardship growing
up. She entered foster care when she was only four
years old because her mother was homeless and her
father was imprisoned. Even though she had a clear
need for mental health treatment, she didn’t get
helpful services in time.
To make matters worse, she was shuttled between
37 homes and residences while growing up! The
constant and severe disruptions to her daily life
affected her mental health in many ways.
As a teenager, Katie decided to represent
thousands of other foster youth, and sued
California in 2002 to make sure that the state
provided the mental health supports, as required
under the law.

T H E R E A R E T H R E E T Y P E S O F K AT I E A . S E R V I C E S ,
B U T A L L K AT I E A . S E R V I C E S S E E K T O A C H I E V E
THESE GOALS:

P R E V E N T I N G youth from being sent to far-away group homes or juvenile hall, in order to get
mental health care.
M A K I N G S U R E that youth receive effective services in a nurturing community environment,
and that their families, friends, and other trusted adults may help with their care.
C E L E B R A T I N G and honoring youths’ unique strengths and talents, rather than focusing only
on their problems or “deficits.”
E N S U R I N G that youths’ treatment plans are tailored to meet their specific needs.

* K AT I E A . I S N O T H E R R E A L N A M E .
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O K AY, I ’ M I N T E R E S T E D . H O W D O I K N O W I F I ’ M E L I G I B L E ?

 You must have Medi-Cal insurance coverage (California’s version of Medicaid, a

federal, public health insurance program) or be eligible for Medi-Cal.

If you don’t know whether you have Medi-Cal, your parents or guardian should know. Also, almost
all foster youth have Medi-Cal.

 You must be under age 21.

 A mental health professional must find that you have a need for Katie A. services.

?
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
Here are some questions that might help you figure out whether Katie A. services
would be useful to you. If you answer “yes” to at least one of the questions below,
you might want to speak with a mental health professional to help you determine
whether you qualify.

H AV E YO U B E E N D I A G N O S E D W I T H A M E N TA L A R E YO U I N F O S T E R C A R E O R I N V O LV E D W I T H

H E A LT H C O N D I T I O N ? T H E C H I L D W E L FA R E , C O U N T Y M E N TA L H E A LT H ,

OR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM?

I F YO U ’ V E R E C E I V E D S E R V I C E S F O R A M E N TA L

H E A LT H C O N D I T I O N , ( F O R E X A M P L E , G R O U P D O YO U H AV E A N I N D I V I D U A L I Z E D E D U C AT I O N

T H E R A P Y ) , A R E YO U U N H A P P Y O R F R U S T R AT E D P L A N AT S C H O O L ( S P E C I A L E D U C AT I O N

WITH THE SERVICES? S E R V I C E S ) , W H I C H I N C LU D E S M E N TA L H E A LT H

S E R V I C E S , L I K E S E E I N G A C O U N S E LO R AT S C H O O L ,
D O YO U TA K E P I L L S / M E D I C AT I O N S F O R A
O R A D D R E S S E S A N “ E M OT I O N A L D I S T U R B A N C E ”
M E N TA L H E A LT H C O N D I T I O N ? I F S O, D O YO U
M E N TA L H E A LT H D I A G N O S I S ?
F E E L T H AT T H E Y ’ R E N OT H E L P I N G YO U ?
H AV E YO U E V E R S P E N T T I M E I N A H O S P I TA L
H AV E YO U B E E N S E PA R AT E D F R O M YO U R FA M I LY ?
B E C A U S E O F YO U R M E N TA L H E A LT H N E E D S ?

* T H I S L A N G U A G E ( “ E M O T I O N A L D I S T U R B A N C E ” ) M AY N O T R E F L E C T Y O U R B E L I E F S , B U T A S A L E G A L T E R M ,
I S I M P O R TA N T T O K N O W T O N A V I G AT E H E A LT H C A R E .
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 I F I ’ M E L I G I B L E F O R K AT I E A . S E R V I C E S , C A N M Y C O U N T Y M E N TA L H E A LT H
Q
D E PA R T M E N T S T I L L D E N Y T H E S E R V I C E S ?

No! Under the law, if you qualify for Katie A., the state MUST make sure that you receive
A
the services in a timely manner and that you receive the level of support that you need.
By law, your local mental health department CANNOT use waiting lists or put limits on the
number of youth who can access Katie A. services.
F R E Q U E N T LY A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S

C A N M Y FA M I LY PA R T I C I PAT E I N M Y T R E AT M E N T A N D H E L P M E A N D M Y M E N TA L
Q
H E A LT H P R O F E S S I O N A L S M A K E D E C I S I O N S A B O U T M Y C A R E ? W H AT A B O U T OT H E R
PEOPLE IN MY LIFE? A TEACHER? A COACH? MY BEST FRIEND?

Yes! Your family, supporters, and mentors in your life can absolutely be involved. Youth
A
who receive Katie A. services get what’s called a “Child and Family Team” (CFT), which
may include people who play a supportive role in their lives, whether as a parent, coach,
teacher, or mental health provider. Ultimately, though, it’s up to you to decide whether or
not you want your supporters to be involved.

Q W H E R E D O I R E C E I V E K AT I E A . S E R V I C E S ?

You and your CFT will determine locations for services that best meet your needs. Possible
A
locations include, but aren’t limited to: and other community venues! You can also meet in
a clinic or therapist’s office, if that’s your choice.

YOUR HOME SCHOOL LIBRARY A PA R K

W H O C A N I C O N TA C T F O R M O R E I N F O A B O U T K AT I E A . S E R V I C E S A N D
Q
WHETHER I’M ELIGIBLE?

1 Ask your parents or caregivers whether you have Medi-Cal. If you’re a foster youth, you
A
almost certainly have it.

2 You or your caregiver — or another trusted adult in your life — should call the
behavioral health department in the county where you live to determine whether you
qualify for Katie A. If you’re already working with a mental health professional, he or
she should also be able to determine whether you’re eligible for Katie A. and can make a
referral to the county.

3 Once you know you qualify for Katie A., your local behavioral health department will
probably do an assessment of your needs/strengths.

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 4 Your local behavioral health department will begin forming your Child and Family Team
to create a service plan and begin providing you with the specific supports that you need.

5 You have a lot of power in voicing and determining what you need and what works
best for you. So, for example, if there’s a place where you feel very comfortable and safe
receiving services — like a park — make sure to let your CFT know.

P L EAS E K EEP IN M IND THAT C O U N T I E S VA R Y I N H O W A C C E S S I B L E T H E I R

I N F O R M AT I O N I S , SO YOU MIGHT NEED TO B E P ERSI ST ENT I N G ET T I NG T HE H E LP
YO U N EED AND D E SE RVE .

YO U CAN US E THE INFORM ATION I NCLU D ED HERE A ND T HE OT HER RESO U RC E S

P ROVIDED BELOW TO ADVOC ATE FO R YO U R M ENTA L HEA LT H A ND W EL L B EI N G!
P L EAS E ALS O SHARE THIS FAC T SHEET W I T H YO U R SU P P O RT ERS & FRI END S!

CHECK THESE OUT https://www.ymadvocacy.org/tag/katie-a/

FOR MORE INFO!

https://www.ymadvocacy.org/our-impact/impact-litigation/california/

https://www.youngmindsadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/Fulfilling-Medi-
Cals-Promise-Katie-A.-Background-Fact-Sheet-2.pdf

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N O N T Y P E S O F K AT I E A . S E R V I C E S , C H E C K O U T O U R
B AC KG R O U N D S H E E T !