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5 <br /> . ~ <br /> Child welfare reform plan <br /> As part of the system reform plan, the contractor is also required to develop a specific plan <br /> focused on child welfare reform. The plan must include recommendations regarding child <br /> protective services, preventive and in-home services, child fatality oversight, placement, <br /> permanency, health, mental health, and educational services for children and families, services <br /> for older youth and those who have aged out, and staff training and compensation. It must also <br /> address a long list of specific practice-related issues. <br /> Part III. County Contract/Corrective Action/State Intervention <br /> This part amends G.S. I08A-74, which is a statute that authorizesthe state to intervene in <br /> county child welfare programs in certain circumstances. The amendments expand the scope of <br /> the statute beyond child welfare and also provide additional mechanisms for oversight and <br /> intervention. <br /> Initial contracts(FY 2018-19 and Fy2O19-2O] <br /> Beginning next fiscal year (2018-19), counties will need to enter into a contract with the State <br /> that specifies (1) performance requirements and (2) administrative responsibilities. The <br /> contract will govern all social services programs other than medical assistance, which will <br /> include child welfare, adult protective services, public assistance, and child support <br /> enforcement. DHHS may develop a standardized contract for all 100 counties or it may develop <br /> contracts that are more tailored to the needs of individual counties. <br /> The law does not include many details about the substance of the contract but it does require: <br /> • When possible, the performance requirements must be "based upon standardized <br /> metrics utilizing reliable data." <br /> • The administrative responsibilities must address, at a minimum, staff training, data <br /> submission, and communication with DHHS. <br /> The agreement may also authorize DHHS to withhold State or federal funds in the event of <br /> noncompliance. <br /> Contracts F��Q��'�� <br /> beginning <br /> Beginning in FY 2020-21, there are some changes to the contract specifications and the <br /> consequences for noncompliance. <br /> • The details described above are unchanged except that the performance requirements <br /> required in the contract must be based on data in the Dashboard developed by the <br /> contractor (see Part II, above) and other reliable data. <br /> • If a department fails to comply with the contract or applicable law for 3 consecutive <br /> months or for 5 months within any consecutive 12-nnonth period, DHHS and the <br /> department must enter into a corrective action plan. <br /> Page 3-September 25, 2017 <br />