Bill Summaries: S 88 NC FAST CHILD WELFARE CASE MGMT./PED STUDY.

Printer-friendly: Click to view
Tracking:
  • Summary date: Feb 11 2021 - View Summary

    Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to contract with a qualified organization to implement a statewide child welfare practice model by June 30, 2022. Details required qualifications of the contracted organization. Requires development of a training program to operationalize the practice model and promote standardization of business practices statewide.

    Directs DHHS to ensure that the contracted organization conducts culture change readiness training by December 31, 2022, that (1) identifies ways to efficiently use existing county resources in implementing the child welfare case management component of NC FAST (NC Families Accessing Services through Technology); (2) assist counties in determining what additional resources may be required to implement the child welfare component of NC FAST; and (3) in assessing resources, consider creating county-specific plans to enhance the provision of child welfare services. 

    Dependent upon legislative appropriations for the NC FAST system for the 2021-22 fiscal year, directs the Department of Information Technology (DIT) to collaborate with DHHS to assign a staff person to the child welfare case management component of NC FAST to provide additional oversight to ensure adequate progress towards goals, additional reporting to DIT and the NCGA regarding implementation progress, efficient use of funding, and protection of taxpayer investment. Requires compliance with this requirement within one month of enactment of legislative appropriations to NC FAST.

    Requires DHHS to prioritize usability with any future vendor contracts regarding software for the child welfare case management component of NC FAST. Requires DHHS to report to the specified NCGA committees and division on the requirements by April 30, 2022.

    Mandates that DHHS require that any vendor providing additional software due to its pending request for information for the child welfare case management component of NC FAST provide a free proof of concept that demonstrates the ability of the vendor’s technology to successfully work with NC FAST, as specified. Requires DHHS to implement the requirements by April 30, 2022.