Partners for Our Children

HB 1365 aims to increase family engagement in the child welfare process through facilitators. The bill would require that facilitator’s guide the decision-making process in all child welfare shared planning meetings, unless the department of social and health services finds good cause to proceed without a facilitator. Additionally the bill outlines the responsibilities of the facilitator and defines shared planning meeting (Shared planning meeting means any meeting that includes families, youth, relatives, fictive kin, natural supports, and others who can assist in a plan that prioritizes child safety and meets the support and service needs of parents, children, and caregivers.  This inclusive meeting model provies an opportunity for information to be shared, case plans to be developed, and decisions made that will support the safety, permanency, and well-being of children.  The goal, when possible, of these meetings must also be to assist in reunifying families.)

Summary of the Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill limits the meetings for which facilitators must be used to family team decisionmaking, permanency planning staffing, and BRS staff meetings.