Bill > S0590

This bill: Requires the Department of Children and Families, in collaboration with sheriffs' offices and community-based care lead agencies, to develop a statewide family-finding program to help locate and engage relatives and other close adults for children in out-of-home care. The bill establishes legislative findings on the importance of family connections and permanency for children, defines key terms, and outlines the requirements and process for the family-finding program. The bill also provides for the establishment of a statewide kinship navigator program to help relative and fictive kin caregivers access resources and services. It sets forth the purpose and required components of the kinship navigator program. Additionally, the bill makes various other changes related to child welfare, including modifying requirements for early education and child care enrollment and attendance, adding provisions to promote educational and placement stability for young children in care, and establishing a pilot Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program in two circuits.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Justice

Appropriations (S), Children, Families, and Elder Affairs (S)

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2018/590