SAFETY-BASED CHILD WELFARE

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services shall develop and implement a safety-based child welfare intervention system (rather than a standardized child endangerment risk assessment protocol), a standardized method for demonstration of proficiency in application of the safety-based child welfare intervention system, and an evaluation of the reliability and validity of the safety-based child welfare intervention system. Requires all child protective investigators and supervisors and child welfare specialists and supervisors employed by the Department to demonstrate proficiency in application of the safety-based child welfare intervention system previous to being permitted to make safety decisions about the children for whom they are responsible. Requires the Department to establish a multi-disciplinary advisory committee to advise the Department and its related contractors in the development and implementation of the safety-based child welfare intervention system. Requires the Department to develop safety-based child welfare intervention system training curriculum. Requires the Department to submit annual reports, beginning on or before December 31, 2026, to the General Assembly on the evaluation of the reliability and validity of the safety-based child welfare intervention system. Makes corresponding changes to the Advisory Committee on Reducing the Disproportionate Representation of African-American Children in Foster Care Act and the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.