Bill > SB402

This bill establishes a five-year pilot program within the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) of the Department of Human Services to address autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children within the foster care system. ASD is defined as a neurobiological disorder affecting communication, social skills, and behavior, as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The program, subject to available funding, will provide screenings, which are brief assessments to identify potential concerns, and clinical evaluations, which are comprehensive diagnostic processes, for ASD in foster children. It will also offer training, services, and resources related to ASD to various stakeholders, including DFCS staff, healthcare providers, and caregivers, which are defined as parents, legal guardians, foster parents, or kinship caregivers. The pilot program will begin in three regional service areas and expand annually until it covers all regions, prioritizing children with pre-existing conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or reactive attachment disorder, or those prescribed psychotropic medications. DFCS will be responsible for planning the program's expansion, improving communication with caregivers, ensuring adequate medical consultants, and providing technical assistance. The division must submit annual reports detailing the program's implementation and effectiveness, along with recommendations, to state leadership and relevant legislative committees, with the program set to automatically end by operation of law after the final report is submitted.

Health and Social Services, Justice

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72251