S785 - Child Welfare System Recommendations

• Department of Health and Human Services Division of Social Services shall implement federal Program Improvement Plan requirements and report semiannually to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services with first report due August 1, 2016, and final report due February 1, 2019.

• Division shall develop a statewide strategic plan for Child Protective Services by December 1, 2016, addressing county performance, caseload sizes, administrative structure, funding adequacy, social worker turnover, and monitoring oversight as identified in the North Carolina Statewide Child Protective Services Evaluation.

• Division shall continue development of the child welfare component of the NC FAST system to ensure compliance with federal Statewide Information System requirements and maintain adequate data quality for tracking children and outcomes across counties.

• Division shall submit quarterly reports on NC FAST child welfare component development and implementation to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services from July 1, 2016, through October 1, 2018, including timelines, progress, issues, solutions, county participation, and budget information.