This bill aims to enhance child welfare services in Florida, particularly focusing on the commercial sexual exploitation of children. It mandates the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to provide detailed assessment data to the Legislature in its annual report, including information on the prevalence of such exploitation, the services provided, and the placement of affected children. The DCF is also required to maintain individual-level data on children assessed for placement in safe houses or foster homes, ensuring that this data is available for legislative analysis. Additionally, the bill establishes a recruitment program for child protective investigators and case managers, emphasizing the need for individuals with backgrounds in public safety and service roles.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a four-year pilot program for treatment foster care, set to begin in July 2025, which will focus on children with high resource indicators or those transitioning from inpatient treatment. The DCF is tasked with coordinating this program with community-based care agencies and ensuring that it meets specific standards, including the provision of specialized training for foster parents. The bill also establishes a case management workforce workgroup to analyze existing practices and recommend improvements, as well as mandates a study on the capacity for residential and nonresidential treatment services 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