Purpose

• Provide funding to support preventive services for families with young children. The bill would appropriate money in fiscal year 2027 from the state’s general fund to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to run the Parent Support Outreach Program. The goal is to offer voluntary early intervention services to families that have risk factors for child maltreatment but are not currently involved with the child protection system.

Main Provisions

• Fiscal year 2027 appropriation: Money from the general fund is allocated to the commissioner of children, youth and families for the Parent Support Outreach Program.
• Program focus: Deliver voluntary early intervention services to families with young children who are experiencing factors that could lead to maltreatment, aiming to prevent problems before any child protection involvement occurs.
• Target group: Families with young children that have maltreatment risk factors but are not in the child protection system.

Significance and Changes to Law

• Establishes/funds a preventive program: Creates or directs funding toward the Parent Support Outreach Program, signaling a shift toward preventive, voluntary support for families rather than relying solely on intervention after maltreatment occurs.
• Expanded preventive approach: Emphasizes early outreach and support for at-risk families as a proactive measure within the child welfare system.

Implementation Considerations

• Delivery methods: The bill text does not specify how services will be delivered (e.g., home visiting, community-based programs, or partnerships with other agencies).
• Eligibility and referrals: Details on how families are identified or referred to the program are not provided in the excerpt.
• Evaluation: No evaluation plan is described in the excerpt; details on measuring effectiveness or outcomes are not included.

What it seeks to accomplish

• Reduce future child maltreatment by providing voluntary, preventive services to at-risk families before involvement with the child protection system.
• Strengthen family support and resilience through proactive outreach and early help.

Relevant Terms - appropriation - general fund - commissioner of children, youth and families - Parent Support Outreach Program - fiscal year 2027 - voluntary early intervention services - families with young children - child maltreatment risk factors - not involved in the child protection system - child protection system - prevention - early intervention