The Florida Senate

39.816  Authorization for pilot and demonstration projects.--

(1)  Contingent upon receipt of a federal grant or contract pursuant to s. 473A(i) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. s. 673A(i), enacted November 19, 1997, the department is authorized to establish one or more pilot projects for the following purposes:

(a)  The development of best practice guidelines for expediting termination of parental rights.

(b)  The development of models to encourage the use of concurrent planning.

(c)  The development of specialized units and expertise in moving children toward adoption as a permanency goal.

(d)  The development of risk assessment tools to facilitate early identification of the children who will be at risk of harm if returned home.

(e)  The development of models to encourage the fast-tracking of children who have not attained 1 year of age, into preadoptive placements.

(f)  The development of programs that place children into preadoptive families without waiting for termination of parental rights.

(2)  Contingent upon receipt of federal authorization and funding pursuant to s. 1130(a) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. s. 1320a-9, enacted November 19, 1997, the department is authorized to establish one or more demonstration projects for the following purposes:

(a)  Identifying and addressing barriers that result in delays to adoptive placements for children in out-of-home care.

(b)  Identifying and addressing parental substance abuse problems that endanger children and result in the placement of children in out-of-home care. This purpose may be accomplished through the placement of children with their parents in residential treatment facilities, including residential treatment facilities for postpartum depression, that are specifically designed to serve parents and children together, in order to promote family reunification, and that can ensure the health and safety of the children.

(c)  Addressing kinship care.

History.--s. 98, ch. 98-403.