This bill mandates the development of protocols and training for reunification therapy services aimed at reestablishing connections between estranged parents and their children. It defines reunification therapy as a specialized form of therapy that addresses the complexities arising from various circumstances such as incarceration, addiction, or divorce. The bill stipulates that only state-licensed mental health professionals who have completed a designated training program will be authorized to provide these services. The training curriculum must be developed by approved applicants, which can include teaching hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, or residential facilities licensed by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families.

To facilitate this initiative, the bill appropriates $3 million from the General Fund, with an additional potential $2 million for related costs. The approved applicants are required to create a standardized training curriculum that will be subject to approval by relevant professional boards and the Department of Children and Families. Furthermore, the bill mandates the collection and public dissemination of data regarding the success and failure rates of reunification therapy services, ensuring transparency and accountability in the implementation of these programs.