The Florida Senate passed a bill 39-0 on Wednesday that would expand data collection to fight child exploitation, start a recruitment program for child welfare professionals, and begin a professional foster care pilot program to better serve children with high behavioral acuity.
Sen. Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach) led the way on the child welfare bill (SB 712). Erin Grall also serves as chair of the Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs.
“We know children can struggle in group homes and more so in institutionalized settings, but benefit, and even thrive, when placed with a family. Florida needs more family-like foster placements for children with high behavioral needs," Sen. Erin Grall said in a release. "The professional foster care pilot program will help us identify specifically trained foster families willing to care for a child with unique needs."
“Additionally, this bill provides tremendous opportunities for retirees to stay involved in their communities through the Child Welfare System. This legislation will help Florida recruit retired law enforcement officers, emergency first responders, military servicemembers, teachers, health care practitioners, and others who have specific training and skills honed over their careers in other fields that will benefit vulnerable children in state care," Grall added.
SB 712 would do several things in partnership with the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
The bill requires DCF to collect and provide specific data for children assessed for placement in safe houses and safe foster homes for better data analysis that can be used to stop commercial sexual exploitation of children.
DCF also would develop and implement a child protective investigator and case manager recruitment program to recruit individuals who have previously held public safety and service positions.
The release specifically mentioned law enforcement officers, emergency first responders, military servicemembers, teachers, healthcare practitioners, and emergency management professionals to fill this role.
DCF also would be required to create a four-year pilot program to put children with high behavioral acuity into less restrictive family settings with trained foster care families.
“Data is clear that the faster we can get traumatized children into loving, permanent homes, the better off those children will be in the long run," Senate President Ben Albritton said. "As hard as we try, government can never replace the role of family. But, we’re dedicated to working hard to be part of the solution."
According to the release, DCF would appropriate $3 million to develop and implement the Professional Foster Care Pilot Program. It also gives DCF $300,000 to start and implement the Child Protective Investigator and Case Manager Recruitment Program.
“We know vicious and immoral criminals are out there each and every day in search of new ways to evade our laws and exploit vulnerable children," Albritton continued. "The more data we have on when and how this evil is happening, the better chance we have to stay one step ahead of these predators and keep vulnerable children safe. Children are our future, and we are fighting together for their safety.”
Rep. Meg Weinberger (R-Palm Beach Gardens) filed a similar bill in the House. If fully passed by the Florida Legislature, the bill would take effect on July 1.