2015 -- H 5016

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN,

YOUTH, AND FAMILIES

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, DeSimone, Ruggiero, Abney, and Gallison

     Date Introduced: January 08, 2015

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-72-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-72 entitled "Department

of Children, Youth, and Families" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-72-4. Qualifications and duties of director. -- (a) The director shall meet the

following minimum qualifications:

      (1) Hold a master's degree and/or a doctoral degree, in social work or a closely related

field, and have demonstrated experience in child welfare and/or children's mental health, and/or

juvenile justice;, and/or public administration; and

      (2) Have at least five (5) years of increasing responsibility in administering programs for

children.

      (b) The director's duties include, but are not limited to:

      (1) Administration and direction of the operation of the department;

      (2) Examination of programs, services, and plans for children for the purpose of

identifying duplications, inefficiencies, effectiveness of programs, resources and unmet needs;

      (3) Securing and analysis of departmental plans and budget requests affecting children's

programs and services;

      (4) Review of federal funds utilized and available to the state for children's programs and

services;

      (5) Collation of items in the governor's budget related to programs and services for

children and issuance of impact statements;

      (6) Formulation of recommendations to the governor and other appropriate department

heads on planning and expenditures for children's programs and services;

      (7) Liaison with community child advocacy groups, including parents, to receive advice

on resources, needs and priorities in the different localities;

      (8) Provide effective public information on children's services in Rhode Island;

      (9) Advise the legislature on the needs of children and their families;

      (10) Establish a central registry for the purpose of reporting, collating, receiving, and

administering reports involving children;

      (11) Liaison with other state departments, agencies, local governments, and private

providers of services to coordinate services and maximize resources in developing programs;

      (12) Formulation of rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this

chapter;

      (13) Preparation of an annual report and state plan to be sent to the governor and the

general assembly;

      (14) Provision or arrangement for the provision of suitable treatment, rehabilitation, and

care for each child under the director's supervision by pursuing the least restrictive placement

and, wherever feasible, by effectuating community placements in Rhode Island;

      (15) The director shall provide for a case management information system that includes

data regarding, but not limited to, client entry, screening, client's needs assessment, development

of a client service plan, services provision, evaluation, review and monitoring of client progress,

and client exit from the system. In addition, the director shall establish a centralized case

management unit to receive all service plans and using any additional expertise as may be

required, will review, monitor, evaluate, endorse, and/or modify as may be appropriate, each

client service plan;

      (16) Administer in a coordinated and integrated manner all institutions and facilities

which are or may come under the jurisdiction of the department; and

      (17) Develop a comprehensive program for the prevention of problems of children and

provide a flexible, innovative, and effective program for the placement, care, and treatment of

children committed by any court to the department, transferred to the department by other

departments, or voluntarily admitted to the department.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN,

YOUTH, AND FAMILIES

***

     This act would eliminate the exclusive requirement that a candidate hold a master's

degree in social work for the qualifications of the director of DCYF and allows for other degrees

to be used to meet the qualifications. In addition, experience in public administration would

qualify as demonstrated experience.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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