Substitute Bill No. 5004 seeks to improve child welfare accountability and transparency by amending existing laws related to emergency placements of children. The bill mandates that the commissioner must prioritize emergency placements with relatives or fictive kin caregivers, requiring a satisfactory home visit and basic family assessment before placement. It also necessitates a federal name-based criminal history search for the caregiver and all adults in the home, along with state and national criminal history checks within ten days. If a child is removed based on these checks, the caregiver has the right to contest the decision. The bill expands the definition of potential caregivers to include fictive kin and requires documentation for any denial of emergency placements or removals, emphasizing the best interests of the child.

Additionally, the bill introduces various initiatives to support caregivers and enhance the workforce within the Department of Children and Families (DCF). It establishes a mentorship program for new social workers, mandatory training on critical issues, and a postsecondary education grant program for youths in state care. The bill also creates an online dashboard for real-time information on DCF services, mandates annual reporting on the education grant program, and establishes a Child Welfare Policy and Oversight Committee to evaluate and recommend improvements to child welfare operations. Notably, it repeals certain provisions regarding subsidies under the subsidized guardianship program, replacing them with new language to ensure monthly subsidies align with foster care maintenance payments. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen the support system for children in protective services and enhance the effectiveness of DCF services.