NC H608

Establishes a Social Services Regionalization Working Group to develop a plan consolidating North Carolina's 100 county social services departments into no more than 30 regional departments, with implementation by January 1, 2022.

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to contract with a third-party organization to develop a comprehensive child welfare reform plan addressing system deficiencies, with $3.1 million appropriated for fiscal year 2018-2019.

Creates a Child Well-Being Transformation Council with 13 members to coordinate collaboration among state agencies serving children, monitor regionalization and child welfare reform, and submit annual reports to legislative committees.

Establishes pilot programs to help youth in substitute care obtain drivers licenses through cost reimbursement ($75,000 per year for two years) and to waive employment requirements for foster parents providing Intensive Alternative Family Treatment services.

Reduces the time frame for appealing termination of parental rights orders from 180 days to 65 days and requires the Department to approve or deny foster care licensure applications within three months.