An Act regarding families and children in need of assistance

This bill establishes a statewide network of community-based services and family resource centers to support families and children in need of assistance. The Department of Children and Families would create these centers to offer coordinated help, including mental health care, basic needs like food and shelter, and educational support, aiming to keep children in their homes and schools. The legislation requires the use of standardized tools to assess family needs and mandates a data collection system to track service usage, wait times, and program effectiveness. Additionally, the bill directs the department to submit annual reports to state committees detailing the number of families served, specific outcomes, and any gaps in available services.