Bill > HB36

This bill aims to improve the care and treatment of children in state custody, particularly those with mental health needs, by introducing "treatment foster homes" as a recognized placement option and clarifying procedures for psychiatric care. It expands the definition of foster care to include these specialized homes, requires foster parents in treatment foster homes to receive trauma-informed care training, and ensures that entities providing these services, including treatment foster homes, are subject to licensing and criminal history checks by the Department of Family and Community Services. The bill also allows for children in state custody to receive short-term psychiatric care in hospitals outside of residential psychiatric treatment centers, with specific notification and court review procedures, and mandates that the state report on the number of children placed in out-of-state psychiatric residential treatment facilities. Additionally, it amends court rules to ensure attorneys are appointed for children placed in hospitals for psychiatric care under these new provisions, and makes changes to Medicaid eligibility to potentially cover these services, contingent on federal approval.