DCFS-RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to develop a written, strategic plan that comprehensively addresses improving timely access to quality in-state residential treatment and evidence-based alternatives for youth in the care of the Department. Requires the planning process to be transparent and allow for stakeholder input. Requires the strategic plan to be finalized and made public no later than one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that the plan shall be revised within 6 months after the conclusion of a rate study and available to incorporate the recommendations of the rate study. Provides that the plan shall include: (1) benchmarks and a timeline for implementing each provision of the plan; (2) strategy for obtaining resources needed to implement each provision of the plan; and (3) ongoing stakeholder engagement during the implementation of the plan. Requires the Department to contract with a rate consultant to study and develop potential new rates and rate methodologies using objective, publicly available data sources, standard administrative cost reporting, and provider-reported costs in order to determine the resources necessary to create and maintain a sufficient number of quality in-state residential treatment resources for youth in the Department's care.