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 rebuild connections between estranged parents and children after periods of separation due to various circumstances, such as incarceration or divorce. The Department of Children and Families will oversee the application process for organizations qualified to develop this training, which must include a teaching hospital, a freestanding psychiatric hospital, or a residential facility licensed by the department. The approved applicant will receive an appropriation of $3 million, with a potential additional $2 million to cover related costs.

The bill outlines specific requirements for the curriculum, which must be approved by relevant professional boards and include input from experts in the field. Only those mental health professionals who complete the training program will be authorized to provide reunification therapy services, including those mandated by court orders. Additionally, the approved applicant is required to collect and publicly share data on the success and failure rates of reunification therapy, ensuring transparency and accountability in the implementation of these services.