NC Child Well-Being Transformation Council

NC Child Well-Being Transformation Council

The NC Child Well-Being Transformation Council met on Monday, June 22, 2020.

The Council discussed  18 recommendations including the following:

1. Direct DHHS to require coordination between counties no later than 90 after a child’s 17th birthday to ensure services are available upon exiting foster care
2. Direct DHHS to outline the permanency plan process and require permanency plans to be initiated no later than 90 days after a child’s 17th birthday and no later than 15 days prior to a child transitioning out of their 18th birthday
3. Require DHHS to develop and implement a plan to keep foster children in community based settings and avoid inappropriate behavioral health placements
4. Require DHHS to study requirements of the state’s social services system, juvenile justice system, LME/MCO communications, LME?MCO cost savings, and the Medicaid program for foster care youth to identify gaps,
5. Direct DHHS to implement a rapid consultation system to provide consultation to counties when making decisions regarding the safety of children using regional staff increasing consistency among counties.
6. Direct DHHS to develop trauma informed assessment tools, evaluate costs and benefits of implementing assessment tools, require their usage to be limited to trained clinicians, evaluate the costs of the tools.
7. Direct DHHS to do increase the use of the Guardian Assistance Program and the Kinship Care Program
8. Require DHHS and NC Association of Regional Councils of Governments to develop a plan to allow Councils of Government to provide physical office space for regional social services staff.
9. Require DHHS to report on federal reimbursement on federal programs and strategies to improve use of those programs.
10. Direct the Social Services Commission to review DHHS’s Division of Social Service’s publications, policies and procedures that satisfy the definition of a rule. They must report to the Office of Administrative Hearings, and submit under the rule making process any identified as satisfying the definition of a rule.
11. Require DHHS, DPI, DPS, AOC, and DIT to study social services confidentiality laws and request recommendations for revisions to improve collaboration and service delivery.
12. Modify state statute to eliminate the following inactive boards and comissions in the children, youth, and family arena.
13. Modify state law to continue the Social Services Working Group.
14. Implement regional supervision of county DSS.
15. Direct DPI and DHHS and LME/MCOs to develop a plan to increase additional in school Medicaid services
16. Require the Program Evaluation Division to evaluate the success of the Integrated Care for Kids pilot program in 2024 including: benefits, telehealth, and cost savings.
17. Express support to share information between DHHS, DPS, county DSS and LME/MCOs
18. Express support for DHHS to prepare comprehensive guidance and training regarding information sharing and confidentiality for all social services programs.

There were three bill drafts presented to make recommendations for study and reform that would accompany the final report issued by the Child Well-Being Transformation Council.

Bill Draft 1

Bill Draft 2

Bill Draft 3