Amendment ID: S2953-7

Amendment 7

Protecting children

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

"SECTION_. Notwithstanding any general or special laws to the contrary within 9 months of the implementation of this act, the Massachusetts department of children and families shall conduct a comprehensive review of the department’s practices related to individuals with disabilities and develop a policy that promotes the following:

(1) workforce development and training;

(2) evidenced-based best practices for effective case management and safety and risk assessment and planning; and

(3) requirements for case documentation about an individual’s disability.

SECTION _. Notwithstanding any general or special laws to the contrary within 6 months of the implementation of this act, the Massachusetts department of children and families shall develop a reunification policy that includes, at a minimum:

(1) an assessment of safety and risk using a research or analytical based or actuarial tool that is used prior to a child’s return and as a support in DCF’s reunification decision-making.

(2) area office management administrative case record review prior to any internal case review meeting;

(3) area office management consultations with the department case management team, educational provider, probation officer, relevant service providers and subject matter experts prior to any internal case review meeting;

(4) area office management discussions with the caregiver(s) to elicit their input and participation in formulating a reunification transition plan that takes into considerations their strengths and needs; and

(5) a documented family-centered transition plan that takes into consideration the individual needs of the child and caregiver, outlines the pre- and post-reunification caregiver expectations, and the department oversight and monitoring of the family to ensure child safety.

SECTION _. Notwithstanding any general or special laws to the contrary within 6 months of the implementation of this act, the Massachusetts department of children and families shall review its current processes for safety assessment and develop an evidenced-based process for assessing safety that includes at a minimum the following:

(1) a structured framework for examining the potential safety of a child within a family unit;

(2) the actions that should be taken because of the safety assessment;

(3) how the findings will be communicated to the family; and

(4) how and when safety assessment should be used as a tool for monitoring.

SECTION _. Notwithstanding any general or special laws to the contrary within 9 months of the implementation of this act, the Massachusetts department of children and families shall develop guidance and training for the department’s workforce that sets written standards and policies of the following:

(1) which families are appropriate for virtual home visits;

(2) when a family previously approved for virtual home visits must be transferred to in-person visitation only;

(3) how to recognize warning signs and assess safety and well-being of a child during virtual home visits; and

(4) indicators of child abuse and neglect during virtual home visits.

SECTION _. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary in implementing this act, the Massachusetts department of children and families shall provide its findings in writing and make them accessible to the general public. In addition, the Massachusetts department of children and families shall hold at least 1 hearing open to the public with respect to the sections of this act, as well as engage with the following specialists including but not limited to: Members of the Department of Early and Secondary Education; The Attorney General’s office; Members of the Department of Early Education; The office of the child advocate; The office of child services; psychologists with specializations in youth psychology and safety; and educators."