The bill amends Section 42-72-36.3 of the General Laws concerning the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) by introducing new reporting requirements aimed at enhancing the residential-care system reform and rebalancing efforts. It mandates that the department submit annual reports by April 1 each year, starting in 2017, to the finance committees of both the Senate and House of Representatives. These reports must include data on congregate-care and foster-care placements, the percentage of screenings completed within thirty days, and recommendations for expanding foster homes and community-based services. Additionally, by January 1, 2026, the department is required to submit a comprehensive report to the governor and legislative leaders detailing its progress in compliance with the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA).

The new report will assess the impact of evidence-based programs (EBPs) under the FFPSA, focusing on their effectiveness in preventing children from entering the foster care system. It will include detailed information on the availability of EBPs for high-risk families, the outcomes for families that participated in these programs, and comparisons of reunification times between families that engaged with EBPs and those that did not. The report will also be made publicly available on the DCYF website and will include any additional relevant information deemed necessary by the department to evaluate the success of the EBPs.

Statutes affected:
564: 42-72-36.3