Bill Text: NJ A1407 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes Prevention Services Programs for Children and Families Network.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-10 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Women and Children Committee [A1407 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A1407-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Prevention Services Programs for Children and Families Network.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act establishing the Prevention Services Programs for Children and Families Network and supplementing Title 9 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. There is established the Prevention Services Programs for Children and Families Network in the Division of Youth and Family Services in the Department of Human Services. The Commissioner of Human Services shall appoint a director to administer the work of the network.
a. The network shall:
(1) provide technical assistance to prevention services programs for children and families;
(2) determine whether or not existing prevention services programs for children and families are cost-effective;
(3) identify and promote best practices of prevention services programs for children and families in order to expand the base of research and practical knowledge about prevention services for children and families;
(4) assist in the development and implementation of successful prevention services programs for children and families throughout the State;
(5) collect and assess demographic and other statistical data in order to aid State and local government agencies and community-based organizations in identifying geographical regions within the State that are underserved by prevention services programs for children and families;
(6) develop prevention services programs for children and families for specific populations underserved by existing prevention services programs; and
(7) facilitate Statewide linkages with existing prevention services programs for children and families and State and local agencies in the development of new prevention services programs throughout the State and the improvement of existing programs.
b. As used in this act, "prevention services programs for children and families" means an array of services provided to a child and his family by a community-based organization or State or local government agency to assist in preventing child abuse or neglect, the placement of a child outside his home or the problems that lead to a family's involvement with the State's child protective services system, including, but not limited to, poverty, homelessness, inadequate parenting skills, domestic violence, substance abuse, truancy and juvenile delinquency.
2. The network is authorized to:
a. apply for and accept any grant of money from the federal government, private foundations or other sources, which may be available for new and existing prevention services programs for children and families;
b. award grants, on a competitive basis, to individuals, prevention services programs for children and families, community-based organizations and State and local government agencies working in partnership with such programs to establish new prevention services programs for children and families throughout the State; and
c. enter into contracts with individuals, organizations and institutions necessary for the performance of its duties under this act.
3. The network is entitled to call to its assistance, and avail itself of, the services of employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes. All departments, agencies and divisions are authorized and directed, to the extent not inconsistent with law, to cooperate with the director of the network.
4. The director of the network shall report annually to the Legislature and the Governor on the activities of the network, including, but not limited to, the determination of the cost-effectivness of prevention services programs for children and families throughout the State and the programs' effectiveness in improving the lives of children and families, the need for expanding existing and developing new prevention services programs for children and families, and the grants awarded by the network pursuant to subsection b. of section 2 of this act. The director may include in the report any recommendations for administrative or legislative action that he deems appropriate.
5. The Commissioner of Human Services shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to carry out the purposes of this act.
6. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the Prevention Services Programs for Children and Families Network in the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) in the Department of Human Services. The Commissioner of Human Services shall appoint a director of the Prevention Services Programs for Children and Families Network to administer the network. The network shall:
· provide technical assistance to prevention services programs for children and families;
· determine whether or not existing prevention services programs for children and families are cost-effective;
· identify and promote the best practices of prevention services programs for children and families in order to expand the base of research and practical knowledge about these prevention services;
· assist in the development and implementation of successful prevention services programs for children and families throughout the State;
· collect and assess demographic and other statistical data in order to aid State and local government agencies and community-based organizations in identifying geographical regions within the State that are underserved by prevention services programs for children and families;
· develop prevention services programs for children and families for specific populations underserved by existing prevention services programs; and
· facilitate Statewide linkages with existing prevention servicesprograms for children and families and State and local government agencies in the establishment of prevention services programs throughout the State and the improvement of existing programs.
The bill defines "prevention services programs for children and families" to mean an array of services provided to a child and his family by a community-based organization or State or local government agency to assist in preventing child abuse or neglect, the placement of a child outside his home or the problems that lead to a family's involvement with the State's child protective services system, including, but not limited to, poverty, homelessness, inadequate parenting skills, domestic violence, substance abuse, truancy and juvenile delinquency.
The bill also stipulates that the network is authorized to: apply for and accept any grant of money from the federal government, private foundations or other sources, which may be available for prevention services programs for children and families; award grants, on a competitive basis, to individuals, prevention services programs for children and families, community-based organizations and State and local government agencies working in partnership with such programs to establish new prevention services programs for children and families throughout the State; and enter into contracts with individuals, organizations and institutions necessary for the performance of its duties under the bill.
The bill directs the director of the program to report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on its activities, including but not limited to, the determination of the cost-effectivness of prevention services programs for children and families throughout the State and the programs' effectiveness in improving the lives of children and families, the need for expanding existing and developing new prevention services programs for children and families, and the grants awarded by the network pursuant to the provisions of the bill. The director of the network may include in the report any recommendations for administrative or legislative action that he deems appropriate.
