FL S1668

Establishes critical incident rapid response teams to investigate child deaths and serious incidents, with mandatory investigations when a child or family member had a verified abuse/neglect report in the prior 12 months.

Creates community-based care lead agencies to deliver child protection and welfare services under 5-year contracts, replacing previous contracting structure and establishing performance accountability requirements.

Requires reasonable efforts to keep siblings together during out-of-home placement and mandates sibling contact consideration in judicial reviews unless not in best interest of child.

Expands Relative Caregiver Program to include specified nonrelatives (not just blood/legal relatives) who can provide substitute parent care with financial assistance.

Extends public access to child death information reported to the child abuse hotline through department website, while protecting reporter identity and other confidential information.

Establishes community-based care alliances for local oversight and governance of child welfare services in each service area with specified membership composition.