Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code § 5857

(a) The State Department of Mental Health shall issue a request for applications for funding for new children’s system of care programs to nonparticipating counties in each year that additional funds are provided for statewide expansion pursuant to this part. (b) Applications shall be submitted to the department by a county mental health department with joint approval of collaborating local agencies including, but not limited to, special education, juvenile court, probation, child protective services agencies, the board of supervisors, and the mental health advisory board. (c) Program staff from the department shall review all applications for funding for compliance with all requirements of law and the application guidelines established by the department. (d) The department may accept letters of intent from a county in lieu of an application if moneys are not available to the county, to affirm commitment by the county to participate in the request for applications for funding process when moneys become available. Upon approval of an application by the director, a county shall be funded for an initial three-year contract period as described in Section 5854 and annually thereafter, consistent with the provisions of this part. If a county is complying with the provisions of this part, the department shall assure that the county receives an annual allocation consistent with departmental guidelines for full funding, as resources are made available.