Child Welfare Services Allocation Formula

The act requires the state department of human services (state department), beginning in state fiscal year 2024-25, to use the child welfare allocations funding model (funding model) to determine the capped and targeted allocations for child welfare services and the funding required for adoption and relative guardianship subsidies, the independent living program, additional county child welfare staff, and family and children's programs.

The funding model determines the appropriate level of funding required to fully meet all state and federal requirements concerning the comprehensive delivery of child welfare services. The act clarifies what must be included in the funding model and requires the state department and the child welfare allocations committee to annually submit a report on the funding model to the joint budget committee.

The state department is required to enter into a 3-year agreement with an outside entity to annually modify the funding model based on recommendations from the child welfare allocations committee and evaluations and deliver the results of the model each year. The act requires a child welfare workload study to inform the funding model. To maintain the integrity of the data used in the funding model, the child welfare allocations committee annually examines county practices regarding data collection and financial management, an evaluation group annually evaluates the funding model, and, every 3 years, an outside evaluating entity conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of the funding model.

The act includes a $250,000 appropriation to the state department.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)