Post by Logan on Feb 28, 2017 18:32:09 GMT -6
Montana House supports bill calling for child abuse prevention plan
HELENA — The Montana House has endorsed a bill that would require the state health department to work with other organizations to develop a plan to prevent child abuse and neglect in the face of an increase in the number of abuse cases and the number of children in foster care.
The House supported the bill 71-28 Monday after discussion over whether the agency should already have such a plan and whether lawmakers needed to direct the agency to do its job. House Bill 517 still faces a third-reading vote.
Rep. Kim Dudik, D-Missoula, said her bill would require the department to work with state department heads, the Montana Children's Trust Fund board, the state advisory council for Child and Family Services, former members of the Protect Montana Kids Commission and representatives of tribal communities along with other state and local agencies that work to reduce or prevent child abuse.
The Protect Montana Kids Commission, appointed by Gov. Steve Bullock, studied the Division of Child and Family Services between December 2015 and May 2016 and made numerous recommendations to the Department of Public Health and Human Services to improve the division's work.
Read more: missoulian.com/news/government-and-politics/house-supports-bill-calling-for-child-abuse-prevention-plan/article_172c3cc3-a3ee-56a5-97f0-800ed90c5d70.html
HELENA — The Montana House has endorsed a bill that would require the state health department to work with other organizations to develop a plan to prevent child abuse and neglect in the face of an increase in the number of abuse cases and the number of children in foster care.
The House supported the bill 71-28 Monday after discussion over whether the agency should already have such a plan and whether lawmakers needed to direct the agency to do its job. House Bill 517 still faces a third-reading vote.
Rep. Kim Dudik, D-Missoula, said her bill would require the department to work with state department heads, the Montana Children's Trust Fund board, the state advisory council for Child and Family Services, former members of the Protect Montana Kids Commission and representatives of tribal communities along with other state and local agencies that work to reduce or prevent child abuse.
The Protect Montana Kids Commission, appointed by Gov. Steve Bullock, studied the Division of Child and Family Services between December 2015 and May 2016 and made numerous recommendations to the Department of Public Health and Human Services to improve the division's work.
Read more: missoulian.com/news/government-and-politics/house-supports-bill-calling-for-child-abuse-prevention-plan/article_172c3cc3-a3ee-56a5-97f0-800ed90c5d70.html