Amendment ID: S2010-67

Amendment 67

DCF Survey

Mr. Tarr moves to amend the bill by inserting after section _ the following section:-

“SECTION _.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission to create and report on a survey of the Department of Children and Families.  The commission shall consist of the secretary of health and human services, or a designee; the commissioner of the department of elementary and secondary education, or a designee; the child advocate, or a designee; the chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, or designees; 2 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader; 2 persons appointed by the Massachusetts Union for Human Service Workers and Educators, and 2 members of independent children’s advocacy groups.

This Commission shall be responsible for preparing and distributing a survey to clients of the department of children and families and to employees of the department, including social workers and supervisors. The department shall work with the commission to ensure that the survey is distributed appropriately and standards for client privacy are upheld.  It shall be possible for the survey to be returned anonymously to the special commission.   The survey should be designed to assess the problems that clients face with the department. The survey should also be designed to assess the problems that department employees experience during the course of their employment with the department and shall allow an opportunity for survey participants to offer solutions to improve the department.  This commission shall study, review and report on the outcome of the surveys and assess the needs and resources of the department of children and families. The survey should be distributed no later than June 1, 2014.  The commission shall issue a report on the outcome, along with any recommendations, to the clerks of the house and senate, no later than October 1, 2014.”.