SB 5645: Concerning child-placing agencies

Requires the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to conduct a child-placing agency contract evaluation which must include:

• Consideration of whether current contracts reflect the services provided by and responsibilities awarded to child-placing agencies;
• The appropriateness of data-sharing agreements between child-placing agencies and DCYF and whether changes are recommended; and
• Whether the contracts appropriately clarify the role of child-placing agencies within the foster care continuum in relation to foster parents, state case workers, and other stakeholders.

This contract evaluation is to be completed by July 15^th, 2019.

Furthermore, DCYF shall contract with an outside entity to conduct a rate analysis of current rates compared with actual costs incurred by child-placing agencies and provide the analysis by October 1^st, 2019.

Finally, the DCYF shall facilitate a stakeholder work group in a collaborative effort to design a child-placing agency rate payment methodology based on actual provider costs of care and must submit a report of findings and recommendations from the stakeholder group by December 15^th, 2019.

*Companion bill HR 1367*