Section 3412 Of Chapter 4. Community Treatment Programs From California Penal Code >> Title 2. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 4.
3412
. (a) The Department of Corrections shall provide pediatric
care consistent with medical standards and, to the extent feasible,
shall be guided by the need to provide the following:
(1) A stable, caregiving, stimulating environment for the children
as developed and supervised by professional guidance in the area of
child development.
(2) Programs geared to assure the stability of the parent-child
relationship during and after participation in the program, to be
developed and supervised by appropriate professional guidance. These
programs shall, at a minimum, be geared to accomplish the following:
(A) The mother's mental stability.
(B) The mother's familiarity with good parenting and housekeeping
skills.
(C) The mother's ability to function in the community, upon parole
or release, as a viable member.
(D) The securing of adequate housing arrangements after
participation in the program.
(E) The securing of adequate child care arrangements after
participation in the program.
(3) Utilization of the least restrictive alternative to
incarceration and restraint possible to achieve the objectives of
correction and of this chapter consistent with public safety and
justice.
(b) (1) The Department of Corrections shall ensure that the
children and mothers residing in a community treatment program have
access to, and are permitted by the community treatment program to
participate in, available local Head Start, Healthy Start, and
programs for early childhood development pursuant to the California
Children and Families Program (Division 108 (commencing with Section
130100) of the Health and Safety Code).
(2) The community treatment program shall provide each mother with
written information about the available local programs, including
the telephone numbers for enrolling a child in a program.
(3) The community treatment program shall also provide
transportation to program services and otherwise assist and
facilitate enrollment and participation for eligible children.
(4) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as granting or
requiring preferential access or enrollment for children of
incarcerated mothers to any of the programs specified in this
subdivision.