DE SB242

Allows the Director or Deputy Director of the Division of Family Services to consent to voluntary psychiatric treatment facility admission for youth in foster care custody when a parent or legal guardian is unavailable

Enables foster care youth to access psychiatric treatment voluntarily without requiring involuntary commitment procedures when parents cannot be located to provide consent

Grants the Division of Family Services Director or Deputy Director authority to sign discharge requests on behalf of foster care youth receiving voluntary psychiatric treatment

Addresses delays in psychiatric care for foster youth who may otherwise wait in emergency departments or inappropriate settings while awaiting parental consent

Maintains collaborative relationship between Division of Family Services and available parents or guardians for medical decisions while providing a pathway when they are unreachable