This bill aims to enhance child welfare services in Florida by amending several statutes related to the Department of Children and Families (DCF). It requires DCF to provide detailed assessment data on the commercial sexual exploitation of children in its annual report to the Legislature, including individual-level data on children assessed for placement in safe houses or foster homes. Additionally, the bill mandates the development of a recruitment program for child protective investigators and case managers, focusing on individuals with prior public safety experience. The program will be implemented in collaboration with community-based care lead agencies and will include specific reporting requirements on recruitment efforts and turnover rates.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a four-year pilot program for treatment foster care, set to begin in July 2025, which will target children with high resource indicators and those requiring continued placement after inpatient treatment. DCF is tasked with coordinating this program with community-based agencies and ensuring that it meets established standards. The bill also calls for the formation of a case management workforce workgroup to analyze existing practices and recommend improvements, as well as a detailed study of bed capacity and service gaps for child victims of commercial sexual exploitation, to be completed by December 2025. Overall, the bill seeks to improve the quality and effectiveness of child welfare services in Florida.

Statutes affected:
S 7012 pb: 39.524