Senate Bill 383 Summary

• Establishes a trauma-informed standardized assessment for children ages 4-17 in or at risk of foster care, with assessments completed within 10 working days of referral and statewide implementation by June 30, 2025.

• Creates a multi-sector partnership including Department of Health and Human Services divisions, health plans, county social services, Benchmarks LLC, and individuals with lived experience to develop the assessment template by December 31, 2023, and finalized curriculum by June 30, 2023.

• Directs the Division of Health Benefits to develop new Medicaid "in-lieu-of" services within 90 days to address gaps in foster care services, including community-based practices and short-term residential treatment options, with request for proposals issued within three months.

• Appropriates $750,000 nonrecurring annually for 2023-2025 for assessment development and $20,000,000 recurring annually for 2023-2025 for Medicaid service implementation, leveraging $38,700,000 in federal matching funds.

• Requires creation of a Division of Social Services Statewide Dashboard updated monthly to track referrals, assessments, case management, service initiation timelines, and youth outcomes related to permanency.