An Act enhancing child welfare protections

This bill strengthens child welfare protections by creating a statewide network of community-based services and family resource centers designed to help families avoid entering the child protective system. The legislation requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish these centers, which will offer a wide range of support including mental health care, substance use treatment, housing assistance, and educational services. Key provisions mandate the use of standardized screening tools to assess family needs and the creation of a data system to track service gaps and outcomes while maintaining client privacy. Additionally, the bill defines specific terms such as "chronic absenteeism" and "family requiring assistance" to guide how these resources are allocated to children and parents at risk of legal involvement.