Homeless youth: child welfare services.

Existing law provides that a child may come within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and become a dependent child of the court in certain cases, including when the child has suffered, or is at substantial risk of suffering, serious physical harm or illness as a result of the willful or negligent failure of the parent or guardian to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment. Existing law prohibits the court, however, from finding that a child is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court solely due to the lack of an emergency shelter for the family.