H.B. 298

1

CHILD WELFARE ENHANCED TRAINING
2 2002 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: David Litvack
5 This act modifies the Utah Human Services Code. This act creates a pilot program for
6 enhanced training of new employees of the Division of Child and Family Services. The act
7 appropriates $1.7 million to implement the program and requires annual reporting to the
8 Legislature.
9 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
10 AMENDS:
11 62A-4a-107, as last amended by Chapter 101, Laws of Utah 1999
12 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
13 Section 1. Section 62A-4a-107 is amended to read:
14 62A-4a-107. Mandatory education and training of caseworkers -- Development of
15 curriculum -- Pilot program for enhanced training.
16 (1) There is created within the division a full-time position of Child Welfare Training
17 Coordinator, who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the director. The employee
18 in that position shall not be responsible for direct casework services or the supervision of those
19 services, but shall:
20 (a) develop child welfare curriculum that is current and effective, consistent with the
21 division's mission and purpose for child welfare;
22 (b) recruit, select, and supervise child welfare trainers;
23 (c) develop a statewide training program, including a budget and identification of sources
24 of funding to support that training;
25 (d) evaluate the efficacy of training in improving job performance;
26 (e) assist child protective services and foster care workers in developing and fulfilling their
27 individual training plans;

28 (f) monitor staff compliance with division training requirements and individual training
29 plans;
30 (g) expand the collaboration between the division and schools of social work within
31 institutions of higher education in developing child welfare services curriculum, and in providing
32 and evaluating training; and
33 (h) report annually to the board and the Legislature on training activities, compliance with
34 the training plan, and achievement of individual training goals.
35 (2) (a) The director shall, with the assistance of the child welfare training coordinator,
36 establish a core curriculum for child welfare services that is substantially equivalent to the Child
37 Welfare League of America's Core Training for Child Welfare Caseworkers Curriculum.
38 (b) Any child welfare worker who is employed by the division for the first time after July
39 1, 1999, shall, before assuming significant independent casework responsibilities, successfully
40 complete:
41 (i) the core curriculum; and
42 (ii) except as provided in Subsection (2)(c), on-the-job training that consists of observing
43 and accompanying at least two capable and experienced child welfare workers as they perform
44 work-related functions:
45 (A) for three months if the worker has less than six months of on-the-job experience as a
46 child welfare worker; or
47 (B) for two months if the worker has six months or more but less than 24 months of
48 on-the-job experience as a child welfare worker.
49 (c) A child welfare worker with at least 24 months of on-the-job experience is not required
50 to receive on-the-job training under Subsection (2)(b)(ii).
51 (3) The division shall provide an annual report to the Legislative Child Welfare Oversight
52 Panel before November 1 on the implementation and status of on-the-job training for child welfare
53 workers required under Subsection (2).
54 (4) (a) Beginning July 1, 2002, the division shall implement a pilot program to provide
55 enhanced training to new employees who work as child welfare caseworkers. The training shall
56 be in addition to training required under Subsection (2)(b) and shall include the following
57 elements:
58 (i) reduced caseloads during the first six to nine months following the training required

59 under Subsection (2)(b);
60 (ii) enhanced supervision and evaluation of casework during the first nine months
61 following the training required under Subsection (2)(b);
62 (iii) personalized intervention plans to improve employee knowledge, skill, and
63 performance based on evaluations at 12, 18, and 24 months following the date of hire; and
64 (iv) other training developed by the division to enhance employee performance, job
65 satisfaction, and retention.
66 (b) The pilot program under Subsection (4)(a) shall be implemented by the division to the
67 extent funds are specifically appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose; however, no more
68 than 37 persons may participate in the program during fiscal year 2002-03.
69 (c) The division shall report to the Health and Human Services Joint Appropriations
70 Subcommittee each annual general session on the implementation and outcomes of the pilot
71 program. The report shall:
72 (i) contrast the performance and length of service of participants and nonparticipants;
73 (ii) identify costs and savings attributable to the program; and
74 (iii) include a method for determining the amount of program funding needed for the next
75 fiscal year.
76 Section 2. Appropriation.
77 There is appropriated to the Division of Child and Family Services within the Department
78 of Human Services $1,700,000 from the General Fund, for fiscal year 2002-03 only, to implement
79 the pilot program required under Subsection 62A-4a-107 (4).




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-1-02 3:01 PM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel