SB 653

Abstract

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that subject to appropriation, the Department of Children and Family Services shall establish a child protection training academy for child protective investigators and supervisors employed by the Department or its contractors, and for other State and county employees, judges, court personnel, service providers, mental health professionals, law enforcement, foster parents, and other appropriate individuals and entities that are involved in providing child welfare services and that work directly with abused or neglected children. Provides that the training efforts of the academy shall include, but shall not be limited to, establishing: (i) training curricula on recognizing and responding to cases of child abuse or neglect; (ii) laboratory training facilities that include mock houses, mock medical facilities, mock courtrooms, and mock forensic interview rooms that allow for simulated, interactive, and intensive training; and (iii) minimum standards of competence that a person shall be required to demonstrate prior to receiving certification from the academy. Provides that by January 1, 2016, the Department shall adopt rules for the administration of the child protection training academy that not only establish statewide competence, assessment, and training standards for persons providing child welfare services, but that also ensure that persons who provide child welfare services have the knowledge, skills, professionalism, and abilities to make decisions that keep children safe and secure. Effective immediately.