The bill amends Florida Statutes concerning child welfare, specifically enhancing the responsibilities of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). It requires DCF to maintain records of assessments used for evaluating children for placement and to collect individual-level data on children assessed for safe house or foster home placements. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of a recruitment program for child protective investigators and case managers, focusing on attracting candidates from public safety and service backgrounds, in collaboration with community-based care lead agencies.

Moreover, the bill establishes a four-year pilot program for treatment foster care starting July 1, 2025, which will target children with high resource indicators and include standards for placement and training for foster parents. It also calls for a case management workforce workgroup to analyze existing practices and recommend improvements. A comprehensive study on treatment services for child victims of commercial sexual exploitation is mandated, with findings to inform future policy. The bill allocates $3 million for the Treatment Foster Care Pilot Program and additional funds for the recruitment program, with most provisions taking effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 7012 Filed: 39.524
S 7012 c1: 39.524