Bill > S25

This bill aims to improve outcomes for transition-age youth, which refers to young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are transitioning from the child welfare system to adulthood. The key provisions of the bill include: 1) Requiring the Department of Children and Families to report annually on the number of youth under 17 years old who have a service plan goal of "another planned permanency living arrangement" (a placement that is not a family home). 2) Mandating the Department to reduce its reliance on this type of placement by 2% each year until it is 5% or less of the total caseload. 3) Directing the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and its child-serving agencies to continue a transitional planning initiative to ensure that every youth leaves the state's care with a comprehensive transition plan, including minimum standards set by the Department and a connection to a committed adult. The overall goal of the bill is to improve the outcomes for young people aging out of the child welfare system by reducing the use of less permanent placements and ensuring they have robust transition plans in place as they move towards independent adulthood.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S25