Establishing a therapeutic foster care services study committee

This bill establishes a therapeutic foster care services study committee. The bill directs the department of human services (DHS) to convene a study committee to meet during the 2022 legislative interim to examine issues relating to therapeutic foster care services to provide eligible children therapeutic care services in a family-like setting. The bill defines “therapeutic foster care” as out-of-home care provided by a foster parent with specialized training and support to care for a wide variety of children with significant emotional, behavioral, social, or medical needs. The bill requires the study committee to consider but not be limited to the appropriate population eligible for therapeutic foster care services; licensing requirements; training requirements; the number of children estimated to be in need of therapeutic foster care services; costs to initiate and maintain therapeutic foster care services; potential funding sources; and how similar therapeutic foster care services operate in other states. The bill requires the study committee to submit a report detailing its findings and making recommendations to the governor and the general assembly no later than December 15, 2022.