This bill mandates the development of a standardized curriculum and training program for reunification therapy services aimed at licensed mental health professionals in New Jersey. Reunification therapy is defined as a therapeutic approach to restore the connection between a parent and child after a period of separation due to various circumstances, such as incarceration or divorce. The training program will be developed by approved applicants, which may include teaching hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, or residential facilities licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health or the Department of Children and Families. The bill allocates $3 million, with a potential additional $2 million, to support the establishment of this training program.

The approved applicant is required to create a curriculum that incorporates best practices in family therapy and reunification therapy, drawing on insights from medical literature and consultations with subject matter experts, including judges and family reunification advocates. Only those mental health professionals who complete this training will be authorized to provide reunification therapy services, including those mandated by court orders. Additionally, the bill stipulates that data on the success and failure rates of reunification therapy must be collected and made publicly available, ensuring transparency and accountability in the implementation of these services.