California Assembly Bill (AB) 1453 required the Department of Social Services to convene a workgroup of designated public and private stakeholders to develop a plan for transforming the current system of group care for foster children or youth, and for children with serious emotional disorders, into a system of residentially based services. The development of a new statewide system of residentially based services was initiated in 2008, and in 2009 Casey Family Programs and the California Alliance of Child and Family Services partnered with WRMA to evaluate the impact of these services in seven California counties. Outcomes of interest include achievement of permanency and child safety and well being. Moreover, fiscal data will be collected to assess the impact of the program on AFDC-FC costs. Data collection is schedule to occur through 2010 and will culminate with reports to the California Legislature.