Bill > H165

This bill aims to enhance child welfare protections in several ways: It creates an education manager position within the Department of Children and Families to oversee policies and practices related to the educational stability and success of children under the department's care. The bill also requires the appointment of at least one full-time education coordinator in each area office to monitor student progress, provide training to caseworkers, and coordinate with local school districts. The bill expands the duties and reporting requirements of the Department of Children and Families, including issuing annual reports on the department's performance, providing quarterly data profiles, and establishing a 5-year plan with numerical targets for safety, permanence, and well-being outcomes. It also requires the department to submit special reports on services for young adults over 18 and the department's fair hearing processes. Additionally, the bill strengthens the independence and oversight powers of the Office of the Child Advocate, allowing the advocate to intervene in juvenile court proceedings and examine disproportionality related to race, ethnicity, disability, and other factors within the child welfare system. The bill also establishes state and local child fatality review teams to help prevent such incidents. Finally, the bill creates a detailed "Bill of Rights" for children in the care of the Department of Children and Families, outlining their rights related to safety, family connections, health care, education, and transition to adulthood, among other provisions.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H165