Bills to bolster DCYF, mental health services, get key committee backing
New Hampshire Union LeaderApr 26, 2018
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-- Two bills designed to address deficiencies in the state's child protection and mental health services will go to the full House with the unanimous support of the powerful
The 26-member committee voted on Wednesday to recommend passage of SB 590 and SB 592.
SB 592 addresses some of the issues raised in an outside evaluation of the state's child protective services conducted after two children whose cases were under DCYF review died of child abuse in 2014 and 2016.
"This bill moves us a long way into trying to solve some of the problems we've had with our child welfare agency," said Rep.
One of the key findings by the
"Our caseloads were sometimes as high as 40 or 50 and national standards suggest 12 per worker," Wallner said. "This doesn't get us to 12, but it moves us in that direction."
A number of other initiatives are included in the bill, such as voluntary services for families at risk, but not yet involved in a DCYF court action; home visiting services; and child care services.
SB 592, dealing primarily with DCYF, authorizes:
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"The voluntary services are important because it is the last step before people get involved in enforcement action with DCYF. It gets them into a program, where they can get the help and skills they need," said
SB 590 focuses on mental health services, specifically:
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The money in the two bills represents a combination of state and federal funds, reallocation of existing appropriations and some new appropriations.
Rep.
"The agency is under new administration, and I feel personally confident that we are on the right track," she said.
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