Sponsored by:
Senator NELLIE POU
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Senator ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Johnson, Durr and Stanfield
SYNOPSIS
Requires DCF to administer school-based youth services program as currently established.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the school based youth services program and supplementing Chapter 4C of Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation, or order to the contrary, the Office of School Linked Services in the Department of Children and Families shall provide school-based youth services to at-risk middle school and high school students eligible to receive such services. The services provided by the office shall:
(1) be the same as those currently provided under the departments existing school-based youth services program; and
(2) continue to be provided in the same manner and by the same agencies, organizations, and local school districts as are currently under contract with the department to provide services under the program.
b. The Commissioner of Children and Families shall enter into a contract with an independent entity to conduct an evaluation of the school-based youth services program. The entity shall issue a final report to the commissioner on the effectiveness of the program and its impact on the health, well-being, and education of the youth of this State no later than six month of the award of the contract.
2. In accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the Commissioner of Children and Families shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Office of School Linked Services in the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to provide school-based youth services (SBYS) to at-risk middle school and high school students eligible to receive such services.
The bill stipulates that the SBYS provided by the office will: (1) be the same as those currently provided under the DCFs existing SBYS program; and (2) continue to be provided in the same manner and by the same agencies, organizations, and local school districts as are currently under contract with the DCF to provide services under the program.
The bill also requires the Commissioner of DCF to enter into a contract with an independent entity to conduct an evaluation of the school-based youth services program. The entity is to issue a final report to the commissioner on the effectiveness of the program and its impact on the health, well-being, and education of the youth of this State no later than six month of the award of the contract.
The current SBYS program provides year-round, school-based intervention and supportive services to at-risk elementary, middle school, and high school students. Services provided by the SBYS program include, but are not limited to, mental health, family, addiction, academic, and employment counseling, conflict resolution, learning support, college preparation, health education, recreational activities, and community and social services referral. The intent of the program is to enhance the lives of students receiving SBYS and to increase the likelihood that the students achieve their educational and long-term life goals.
Recently, the Commissioner of DCF announced that all SBYS contracts Statewide would be terminated and replaced with a Statewide Hub and Spoke service model. Under the new model, the SBYS program would no longer be school-based. Rather, the new model would require service providers contracted with DCF to coordinate the provision of SBYS from a central location, or hub, in each of the States 21 counties. Contracted service providers, additionally, are to provide outreach to, instead of direct services in, every school located in a county hub.
It is the sponsors intent to statutorily establish the current SBYS program administered by the DCF in order to maintain a program that has provided services effectively to eligible students throughout the State.