Bill Text: IN SR0047 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urging IN Commission on Mental Health & Addiction to study DCS services.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-21 - First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary [SR0047 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2012-SR0047-Introduced.html
A SENATE RESOLUTION urging the Indiana Commission
on Mental Health and Addiction to study: 1) how it is
determined whether a family and/or child is eligible for services
by the Department of Child Services (DCS); 2) the
wrap-around services available to families involved in DCS
proceedings; 3) the follow-up provided by DCS staff to
determine whether services were provided and the adequacy of
those services; and 4) the communication between family court
and DCS to collaborate on families' involvement in each entity.
, read first time and referred to Committee on
MADAM PRESIDENT:
I offer the following resolution and move its adoption:
A SENATE RESOLUTION urging the Indiana
Commission on Mental Health and Addiction to study: 1) how
it is determined whether a family and/or child is eligible for
services by the Department of Child Services (DCS); 2) the
wrap-around services available to families involved in DCS
proceedings; 3) the follow-up provided by DCS staff to
determine whether services were provided and the adequacy of
those services; and 4) the communication between family court
and DCS to collaborate on families' involvement in each entity.
Whereas, Concerning a combined safety measurement
including the timeliness of initiating a response to child
maltreatment and the absence of the recurrence of
substantiated maltreatment, Indiana was successful in 54.5%
of cases. This was less than the 95% 2008 federal benchmark
according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services;
Whereas, In 2009 there were 38 abuse and neglect
fatalities, 9 of which occurred in families with at least one prior
child protective services substantiated investigation;
Whereas, According to DCS, the most common stress
factors ranked in order of frequency for abuse cases were: 1)
heavy child care responsibilities; 2) lack of parenting skills; 3)
mental health problems; 4) domestic violence; and 5)
pregnancy/new child;
Whereas, Navigating the child welfare system and knowing
how to access services can be confusing to families;
Whereas, Wrap-around services have been shown to reduce
the recurrence of abuse and help families, through
individualized care, to keep multi-problem youth in their homes
with families as opposed to an institutionalized setting; and
Whereas, DCS has developed strong collaboration efforts
with many external partners including the Division of Mental
Health and Substance Abuse, the Family and Social Services
Administration, the Indiana Juvenile Judges Association, the
Indiana Court Appointed Special Advocate program as well as
other programs. Nevertheless, Indiana does not currently have
any formal policy requirements related to ongoing consultation
with external partners linked to agency planning: Therefore,
SECTION 1. The Indiana Commission on Mental Health and Addiction to study: 1) how it is determined whether a family and/or child is eligible for services by the Department of Child Services (DCS); 2) the wrap-around services available to families involved in DCS proceedings; 3) the follow-up provided by DCS staff to determine whether services were provided and the adequacy of those services; and 4) the communication between family court and DCS to collaborate on families' involvement in each entity.
SECTION 2. The Commission shall make recommendations in accordance with this section.
