Enacts Part 2C, the Child Welfare Case Escalation Team, to Article 1 of GS Chapter 108A, requiring the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to maintain a Child Welfare Case Escalation Team (team) of representatives for each regional social services department that conducts escalation assessments of juveniles that have a history of child protective services attention due to a combination of safety and risk factors. Sets three purposes of the teams: (1) support county departments of social services (county DSS); (2) provide an additional level of review to ensure child safety statewide; and (3) provide quality assurance of the child protective services history of a family who has returned to the attention of child protective services, including assessing the quality of prior service intervention and further decisions of  services provided to ensure the safety and well-being of juveniles moving  forward with the family. Requires DHHS to staff the team, including the assigned manager and escalation specialists. Directs the team to coordinate with the specified social services and law enforcement officials. Defines six terms applicable to new Part 2C in GS 108A-15.26. Sets out the following criteria that trigger team involvement in a report of abuse or neglect to screen in GS 108A-15.27: (1) extensive child welfare history, (2) three or more reports within a 12-month period involving the same or similar allegations that were screened out that indicate a pattern of concern despite prior screening decisions, (3) history of prior removal and placement into foster care, such as previous removal of juveniles from the home due to similar or identical allegations, (4) three or more substantiated findings involving the family that demonstrate a pattern consistent with chronic or habitual neglect, or (5) ongoing medical or mental health neglect, such as repeated reports indicating failure to address juveniles' medical or mental health needs with allegations consistent across multiple reports and time frames. Provides for notice and information sharing. Tasks the team escalation specialist in GS 108A-15.28, with assessing the child welfare history, identify gaps in services and other areas that impact safety of the juvenile, review the overall safety planning for the juvenile in the current assessment to determine if there are additional steps required to ensure safety, and to create a timeline of CPS interventions. Directs the escalation specialist and other team members to provide technical assistance and for the escalation specialist to collaborate with the county DSS as described. Directs the county DSS to respond to unaddressed safety concerns identified though the team’s review process immediately or within the same day of notification. Specifies that the team and other assigned and DHHS staff will review records to ensure that practices that have deficiencies are corrected and there is communication with county department staff and others to improve child welfare practice at all levels across the county departments of social services.

Appropriates $550,000 in recurring funds beginning in 2026-27 from the General Fund to DHHS for six full-time equivalent positions, including human services program consultants and one human services program manager, to staff and implement the team along with $157 in federal receipts beginning 2026-27. Effective July 1, 2026.

Directs DHHS’s Division of Social Services (Division) to explore means and resources needed to automate and reduce the burden on the county workforce to alert DHHS of escalation reviews, as described. Instructs DHHS to amend its protocols and rules as necessary to integrate team involvement into the entry of a private residence to ensure seamless and coordinate assistance for high-risk juveniles at risk of abuse or neglect.

Section 2.

Requires the Division to adopt rules amending Subchapter 70A of the North Carolina Administrative Code and update associated Division policies, Child Protective Services Assessments Policy, Protocol, and Guidance, and the Partnership and Technology Hub for North Carolina to require directors of departments of social services to require photographs or video evidence be gathered during an initial investigative assessment response or initial family assessment response if evidence tends to show a juvenile subject to the assessment has been alleged to be abused or neglected. Requires, in GS 7B-302, a law enforcement agency to show by clear and convincing evidence in a judicial action to prevent disclosure of information requested by the team that disclosure of the information in question will jeopardize the right of the State to prosecute a defendant or the right of a defendant to receive a fair trial or will undermine an ongoing or future investigation. Adds instances when a report alleges suspected abuse or neglect of a high-risk juvenile and the team has been activated and is assisting the county DSS in conducting the assessment at the juvenile’s residence as one of the grounds for entry of a private residence for assessment purposes.

Section 3.

Appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to DHHS for 2026-27 for training for the specified social workers and employees to recognize abuse and neglect, as specified. Effective July 1, 2026.

Section 4.

Effective October 1, 2026, unless otherwise indicated.