The Community State Staff Program (CSSP) enables experienced staff, familiar with the needs of individuals at developmental centers (DCs) and community facilities (CFs), to continue supporting them in the community. This continuity of care benefits the individual being cared for, the family members of the individual who have trust in this level of support, and DC/CF staff who are seeking new employment options. It also gives service providers and regional centers greater access to qualified staff when hiring. While working in a community setting, DC/CF staff retain their civil service status, including salary and benefits, and the State receives full reimbursement via the contract for these services. Ideally, after working in the program, DC/CF staff will transition to other roles in the service system supporting individuals.
CSSP Career Opportunities
Useful Information
Frequently Asked Questions
History
As recommended by the Plan for the Future of the Developmental Centers in California, prepared by the Developmental Centers (DC) Task Force and published January 13, 2014, the Department expanded resident services and supports previously associated with an approved DC closure plan to all individuals. The experience with the Agnews and Lanterman closures led to the development and refinement of various options and improvements in services and supports. Among those services is the CSSP, where a community entity (typically a service provider or a regional center) may contract with the Department of Developmental Services to obtain the services of a DC/CF employee to support individuals during transition and/or in their new home. The Department received authorization to expand the use of the CSSP to assist in meeting the goal of successfully transitioning DC/CF clients to community living or deflecting the admission of individuals with developmental disabilities to a DC, institution of mental disorder, an out of state placement, a general acute care hospitalization, or an acute psychiatric hospital as part of SB 856, the Developmental Services 2014-15 Budget trailer bill that was signed into law in June 2014 (WIC 4474.2).
Last modified: July 3, 2025