Prepared by the

April 2019

Of f i c e o f Of f i c e o f L E G I S L AT I V E S E R V I C E SL E G I S L AT I V E S E R V I C E SNew Jersey LegislatureNew Jersey Legislature

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

A N A LY S I S O F T H E N E W J E R S E Y B U D G E T

F I S C A L Y E A R 2019-2020

S E N AT E B U D G E T A N D A P P R O P R I AT I O N S C O M M I T T E E

Paul A. Sarlo (D), 36th District (Parts of Bergen and Passaic), ChairSandra B. Cunningham (D), 31st District (Part of Hudson), Vice-ChairDawn Marie Addiego (D), 8th District (Parts of Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)Bob Andrzejczak (D), 1st District (All of Cape May, Parts of Atlantic and Cumberland)Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D), 5th District (Parts of Camden and Gloucester)Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. (D), 18th District (Part of Middlesex)Linda R. Greenstein (D), 14th District (Parts of Mercer and Middlesex)Declan J. O’Scanlon, Jr. (R), 13th District (Part of Monmouth)Steven V. Oroho (R), 24th District (All of Sussex, and parts of Morris and Warren)M. Teresa Ruiz (D), 29th District (Part of Essex)Troy Singleton (D), 7th District (Part of Burlington)Samuel D. Thompson (R), 12th District (Parts of Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

G E N E R A L A S S E M B LY B U D G E T C O M M I T T E E

Eliana Pintor Marin (D), 29th District (Part of Essex), ChairJohn J. Burzichelli (D), 3rd District (All of Salem, parts of Cumberland and Gloucester), Vice-ChairDaniel R. Benson (D), 14th District (Parts of Mercer and Middlesex)Robert D. Clifton (R), 12th District (Parts of Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)John DiMaio (R), 23rd District (Parts of Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)Gordon M. Johnson (D), 37th District (Part of Bergen)Patricia Egan Jones (D), 5th District (Parts of Camden and Gloucester)John F. McKeon (D), 27th District (Parts of Essex and Morris)Raj Mukherji (D), 33rd District (Part of Hudson)Nancy F. Munoz (R), 21st District (Parts of Morris, Somerset and Union)Carol A. Murphy (D), 7th District (Part of Burlington)Edward H. Thomson (R), 30th District (Parts of Monmouth and Ocean)Benjie E. Wimberly (D), 35th District (Parts of Bergen and Passaic)

O F F I C E O F L E G I S L AT I V E S E R V I C E S

Frank W. Haines III, Legislative Budget and Finance Offi cerThomas Koenig, Assistant Legislative Budget and Finance Offi cer

Marvin W. Jiggetts, Director, Central Staff Brian J. McCord, Section Chief, Human Services Section

NEW JERSEY STATE LEGISLATURENEW JERSEY STATE LEGISLATURE

This report was prepared by the Human Services Section of the Offi ce of Legislative Services under the direction of the Legislative Budget and Finance Offi cer.

The primary author was Michele Leblanc.

Questions or comments may be directed to the OLS Human Services Section (Tel: 609-847-3860) or the Legislative Budget and Finance Offi ce (Tel: 609-847-3105).

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DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Budget Pages ....... C-3; C-9; C-16; D-31 to D-41

Fiscal Summary ($000)

Expended

FY 2018

Adjusted Appropriation

FY 2019 Recommended

FY 2020

Percent Change

2019-20

State Budgeted $1,176,003 $1,174,506 $1,152,940 (1.8%)

Federal Funds 612,545 613,445 626,630 2.1%

Other 54,884 54,876 54,876 0.0%

Grand Total $1,843,432 $1,842,827 $1,834,446 (0.5%)

Personnel Summary - Positions By Funding Source

Actual

FY 2018 Revised

FY 2019 Funded

FY 2020

Percent Change

2019-20

State 4,827 4,832 4,845 0.3%

Federal 1,567 1,539 1,539 0.0%

Other 296 282 282 0.0%

Total Positions 6,690 6,653 6,666 0.2%

FY 2018 (as of December) and revised FY 2019 (as of January) personnel data reflect actual payroll counts. FY 2020 data reflect the number of positions funded.

Link to Website: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/finance.asp

Department of Children and Families FY 2019-2020

Highlights

2

Department Overview The Governor’s FY 2020 Budget no longer displays the Department of Children and Families (DCF) budget lines in a gross budget format and instead uses a standard budget presentation, disaggregating appropriations of State, federal, and All Other Funds, as applicable. The Governor’s FY 2020 Budget provides a total of $1.83 billion for the DCF, a decrease of $8.4 million (0.5 percent) from the total FY 2019 appropriation. This change is the net effect of a $21.6 million (1.8 percent) decrease in State funding and a $13.2 million (2.1 percent) increase in federal funding. Funding from All Other Funds is unchanged. State funds account for $1.153 billion (63 percent) of total FY 2020 appropriations to the department, federal funds for $626.6 million (34 percent), and All Other Funds for $54.9 million (3 percent).

The DCF received $16 million out of the $100 million appropriated in FY 2019 for “Expanded Addiction Initiatives.” The Governor recommends renewing the $100 million appropriation for “Expanded Addiction Initiatives” in FY 2020 but the allocation thereof is unspecified. The $16 million allocated to the DCF in FY 2019 funds three opioid-related initiatives: a) $12.0 million for the Keeping Families Together program, which provides supportive housing for high-needs families; b) $2.5 million for peer recovery support services for Division of Child Protection and Permanency-involved parents; and c) $1.5 million for substance use navigators for youth.

Child Protection and Permanency (CP&P)

The Governor’s FY 2020 Budget recommends $994.4 million in total funding for CP&P ($653.9 million State, $333.3 million federal, and $7.3 million other funds), an overall decrease of about $1.6 million from the FY 2019 adjusted appropriation of $996.1 million.

State funding decreases by $6.6 million, which is the net effect of a $6.9 million decline in the appropriation to the State’s foster care program, a $1.6 million decrease in the appropriation for out-of-home placements, and a $2.0 million increase in the appropriation for family support services. The changes are attributable to the continuation of a long-term policy that places a greater emphasis on finding sources of care for CP&P children outside of the foster care system. These intensified efforts affect the utilization rates of several CP&P programs. In addition, the Administration anticipates that the CP&P will not need $6.3 million of its adjusted FY 2019 appropriations and that the amount will be returned to the General Fund at the end of the fiscal year. Relative to current FY 2019 spending projections, the recommended FY 2020 State funds appropriations to the CP&P will therefore decrease by $388,000. Federal funds appropriations to CP&P programs are recommended to increase by $5.0 million in FY 2020, while funding from All Other Funds is projected to be unchanged.

CP&P is the State’s child welfare agency, with responsibilities to investigate allegations of child abuse or neglect; assist, preserve, and strengthen families in crisis; provide out-of-home placements, when necessary, to protect the safety and well-being of children; facilitate family reunification, when possible; facilitate permanent adoptions or kinship legal guardianship

Department of Children and Families FY 2019-2020

Highlights (Cont’d)

3

placements for children who cannot return home; and support adolescent youth (age 18 to 20) aging out of the State’s foster care system. The department continues to receive federal monitoring under the “Sustainability and Exit Plan,” announced in November 2015, the anticipated final phase of federal supervision for the State’s child welfare system. In order to receive final approval to terminate federal monitoring, the State will need to meet several specified performance targets and maintain its performance levels for at least two six-month monitoring periods. The most recent monitoring report, published in February 2019 and reporting on the period from January 2018 to June 2018, determined that the DCF met 41 of 48 performance measures. Of the seven remaining measures classified as “to be achieved,” five were not assessed in the mid-year report.

Children’s System of Care (CSOC) The Governor’s FY 2020 Budget recommends $601.6 million in total funding for the CSOC ($367.1 million State, $234.4 million federal, and $150,000 other funds), an overall reduction of about $6.9 million from the FY 2019 adjusted appropriation of $608.5 million.

State funding decreases by $14.9 million, which is the net effect of a projected $27.8 million decline in the appropriation to CSOC out-of-home treatment services, a $6.9 million increase in the appropriation for mobile response services, and a $4.9 million increase in the appropriation for family support services. The changes are mostly attributable to the continuation of a long-term policy of shifting, to the extent feasible, the treatment provided to CSOC children from settings outside of the home to the children’s home environment. These efforts affect the utilization rates of several CSOC programs. In addition, $3.0 million of the recommended decrease in the CSOC out-of-home treatment services appropriation reflects a shift of expenditures to additional federal Medicaid matching funds projected to accrue as the result of the recent Medicaid accreditation of the CSOC’s residential treatment providers as psychiatric residential treatment facilities. Furthermore, the Administration anticipates that the CSOC will not need $25.5 million of its adjusted FY 2019 appropriations and that the amount will be returned to the General Fund at the end of the fiscal year. Relative to current FY 2019 spending projections, the recommended FY 2020 State funds appropriations to the CSOC will therefore increase by $10.6 million. Federal funds appropriations to CSOC programs are recommended to grow by $8.1 million in FY 2020, while funding from All Other Funds is projected to be unchanged. The increase in federal funds appropriations is attributable to the increased projected utilization of CSOC services that generate federal Medicaid funds and additional Medicaid funds accruing from the recent Medicaid accreditation of the CSOC’s residential treatment providers as psychiatric residential treatment facilities. The CSOC provides behavioral health services to children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral health challenges, substance use disorder challenges, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Most CSOC services are included within the Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare program and receive federal matching funds through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Department of Children and Families FY 2019-2020

Highlights (Cont’d)

4

Family and Community Partnerships

and Division on Women

The Governor’s FY 2020 Budget recommends $98.9 million in total funding for Family and Community Partnerships (FCP) programs ($60.4 million State, $34.5 million federal, and $3.9 million other funds). There are no changes in the recommended FY 2020 appropriations for individual FCP programs. FCP programs focus on early childhood services, school-linked services, and family support services intended to prevent child abuse and neglect and strengthen families and communities. FCP also provides services to victims of domestic violence, a responsibility shared with the closely linked Division on Women, which administers sexual violence prevention programs, aid to women’s shelters, programs for displaced homemakers, and other services.

Other Program Classifications

The Governor’s FY 2020 Budget makes no significant changes to the amounts appropriated to the remaining DCF program classifications: Education Services ($59.7 million from all sources), Child Welfare Training Academy Services and Operations ($8.3 million from all sources), Safety and Security Services ($7.5 million from all sources), and Administration and Support Services ($64.2 million from all sources).

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Department of Children and Families FY 2019-2020

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

AGENCY FUNDING BY SOURCE OF FUNDS ($000)

Adj.

Expended Approp. Recom. Percentage Change

FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 2018-20 2019-20

General Fund

Direct State Services $294,467 $292,939 $292,939 (0.5%) 0.0%

Grants-In-Aid 881,536 881,567 860,001 (2.4%) (2.4%)

State Aid 0 0 0 ---- ----

Capital Construction 0 0 0 ---- ----

Debt Service 0 0 0 ---- ----

Sub-Total $1,176,003 $1,174,506 $1,152,940 (2.0%) (1.8%)

Property Tax Relief Fund

Direct State Services $0 $0 $0 ---- ----

Grants-In-Aid 0 0 0 ---- ----

State Aid 0 0 0 ---- ----

Sub-Total $0 $0 $0 ---- ----

Casino Revenue Fund $0 $0 $0 ---- ----

Casino Control Fund $0 $0 $0 ---- ----

State Total $1,176,003 $1,174,506 $1,152,940 (2.0%) (1.8%)

Federal Funds $612,545 $613,445 $626,630 2.3% 2.1%

Other Funds $54,884 $54,876 $54,876 (0.0%) 0.0%

Grand Total $1,843,432 $1,842,827 $1,834,446 (0.5%) (0.5%)

PERSONNEL SUMMARY - POSITIONS BY FUNDING SOURCE

Actual Revised Funded Percentage Change

FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 2018-20 2019-20

State 4,827 4,832 4,845 0.4% 0.3%

Federal 1,567 1,539 1,539 (1.8%) 0.0%

All Other 296 282 282 (4.7%) 0.0%

Total Positions 6,690 6,653 6,666 (0.4%) 0.2%

FY 2018 (as of December) and revised FY 2019 (as of January) personnel data reflect actual payroll counts. FY 2020 data reflect the number of positions funded.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION DATA

Total Minority Percentage 47.7% 46.4% N/A ---- ----

Department of Children and Families FY 2019-2020

Significant Changes/New Programs ($000)

Budget Item

Adj. Approp.

FY 2019

Recomm.

FY 2020

Dollar

Change

Percent

Change

Budget

Page

6

(Note: The Governor’s FY 2020 Budget no longer displays the Department of Children and Families budget lines in a gross budget format and instead uses a standard budget presentation, disaggregating appropriations of State, federal, and all other funds.)

Division of Child Protection and Permanency (CP&P)

General Fund,

Grants-in-Aid:

Out-of-Home

Placements $13,645 $12,026 ($1,619) (11.9%) D-38

Evaluation Data on page D-36 indicate that total spending for out-of-home placements of children in CP&P custody is expected to increase by $250,000 from $16.3 million in FY 2019 to $16.5 million in FY 2020. The increase reflects anticipated growth of about $1,400 in the average annual cost per client (from $91,562 in FY 2019 to $92,970 in FY 2020). The department expects the average daily population to remain unchanged at 178 children. The CP&P program does not include out-of-home placements of children with behavioral, intellectual or developmental disabilities, who are the responsibility of another DCF division, the Children’s System of Care. The State funds appropriation in the above budget line pays for most of the program expenditures, with federal and dedicated funds accounting for the remainder. Upon inquiry, the Office of Management and Budget indicated that the CP&P would not need $1.6 million of the adjusted FY 2019 appropriation for program expenditures and that the amount would be returned to the General Fund at the end of the fiscal year. Consequently, the recommended reduction in the FY 2020 State appropriation for CP&P out-of-home placements does not reflect an anticipated decrease in program expenditures, but an alignment of the recommended FY 2020 appropriation with FY 2019 spending trends.

General Fund,

Grants-in-Aid:

Family Support

Services $84,945 $86,991 $2,046 2.4% D-38

Evaluation Data on page D-35 indicate that total spending for CP&P Family Support Services is expected to reach $101.2 million in FY 2020, about $2.0 million more than the FY 2019 expenditure projection of $99.1 million. The growth is attributable to an anticipated increase in service utilization, as 2,214 more children are projected to receive CP&P services in FY 2020 than in the current year. In all, the CP&P forecasts serving 182,324 children in FY 2020. The State funds appropriation in the above budget line pays for most of the program expenditures, with federal funds accounting for the remainder. Upon inquiry, the Office of Management and Budget indicated that the CP&P would not need $526,000 of the adjusted FY 2019 appropriation for program expenditures and that the amount would be returned to the

Department of Children and Families FY 2019-2020

Significant Changes/New Programs ($000) (Cont’d)

Budget Item

Adj. Approp.

FY 2019

Recomm.

FY 2020

Dollar

Change

Percent

Change

Budget

Page

7

General Fund at the end of the fiscal year. Therefore, the FY 2020 State appropriation for CP&P Family Support Services exceeds projected FY 2019 spending from the account by $2.6 million, rather than $2.0 million. The CP&P Family Support Services program provides assistance to families and children in their own homes as well as to foster and adoptive families and children in out-of-home placement. The services are intended to reduce the need for more intensive interventions and to promote independence. Support includes transportation assistance, homemaker services, psychological and therapeutic services, day treatment, companionship, and legal and health-related services. The CP&P program does not include family support services for children with behavioral, intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families. The latter client population is served by another DCF division, the Children’s System of Care.

General Fund,

Grants-in-Aid:

Foster Care $71,168 $64,305 ($6,863) (9.6%) D-39 Evaluation Data on page D-36 indicate that total spending for the CP&P Foster Care program is forecast to decline by $5.1 million from $78.1 million in FY 2019 to $73.0 million in FY 2020. The decrease represents the continuation of a long-term initiative by the Department of Children and Families that places a greater emphasis on finding sources of care for CP&P children outside of the foster care system. Consistent with that general policy, the CP&P projects that the average daily population of children in the foster care system will decrease by 444 children from 6,695 children in FY 2019 to 6,251 children in FY 2020. For reference, the number was 7,737 children in FY 2017. The State funds appropriation in the above budget line pays for most of the program expenditures, with federal and dedicated funds accounting for the remainder. Upon inquiry, the Office of Management and Budget indicated that the CP&P would not need $1.8 million of the adjusted FY 2019 appropriation for program expenditures and that the amount would be returned to the General Fund at the end of the fiscal year. Consequently, the recommended FY 2020 State funds appropriation for the State’s foster care system falls $5.0 million, rather than $6.9 million, below projected FY 2019 spending from the account.

Federal Funds:

Child Protection and

Permanency $328,254 $333,262 $5,008 1.5% D-40 This budget line aggregates several sources of federal funding the CP&P uses to support its operations. Two federal funds appropriations account for the recommended $5.0 million growth in the budget line: $3.2 million from Title IV-E Foster Care and $1.8 million from Title

Department of Children and Families FY 2019-2020

Significant Changes/New Programs ($000) (Cont’d)

Budget Item

Adj. Approp.

FY 2019

Recomm.

FY 2020

Dollar

Change

Percent

Change

Budget

Page

8

IV-E Adoption Assistance. Title IV-E is a title in the federal Social Security Act that provides foster care and adoption assistance. The Administration recommends appropriating $85.7 million in federal Title IV-E Foster Care funds to the CP&P in FY 2020, some $3.2 million more than in FY 2019. Title IV-E Foster Care funds are awarded to the states by formula and may be used for: monthly maintenance payments for the daily care and supervision of eligible children; program administration costs; training of staff and foster care providers; recruitment of foster parents; and costs related to the design, implementation, and operation of a statewide data collection system. The Administration proposes appropriating $75.7 million in federal Title IV-E Adoption Assistance funds to the CP&P in FY 2020, some $1.8 million more than in FY 2019. The federal Adoption Assistance Program provides funds to states to facilitate the timely placement of children, whose special needs or circumstances would otherwise make placement difficult, with adoptive families. The Adoption Assistance Program provides federal matching funds of 50 to 83 percent, depending on a state's per capita income. Funds may be used for: one-time payments to assist with the costs of adopting a child; monthly subsidies to adoptive families to assist with the care of an eligible child; program administration costs; training staff and adoptive parents; adoptive parent recruitment; and other related expenses.

Children’s System of Care (CSOC)

General Fund,

Grants-in-Aid:

Out-of-Home

Treatment Services $167,582 $139,821 ($27,761) (16.6%) D-39 Upon inquiry, the Office of Management and Budget explained that the decrease in the State funds appropriation for CSOC Out-of-Home Treatment Services had two components. First, a reduction of $3.0 million reflects a shift of expenditures to additional federal Medicaid matching funds projected to accrue as the result of the recent accreditation of the CSOC’s residential treatment providers as psychiatric residential treatment facilities by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Second, the remaining $24.8 million reduction in the recommended FY 2020 State funds appropriation is mainly attributable to the continuation of a long-term initiative by the Department of Children and Families to shift, to the extent feasible, the treatment provided to CSOC children from settings outside of the home to the children’s home environment. In addition, the Office of Management and Budget indicated that the CSOC would not need $17.4 million of the adjusted FY 2019 appropriation for program expenditures and that the amount would be returned to the General Fund at the end of the fiscal year. Therefore, the

Department of Children and Families FY 2019-2020

Significant Changes/New Programs ($000) (Cont’d)

Budget Item

Adj. Approp.

FY 2019

Recomm.

FY 2020

Dollar

Change

Percent

Change

Budget

Page

9

recommended FY 2020 State funds appropriation for CSOC Out-of-Home Treatment Services is only $10.4 million less than projected FY 2019 spending from the account. The CSOC Out-of-Home Treatment Services program funds a range of residential treatment services for children with behavioral health needs, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders. Residential treatment is generally provided to youth with the highest levels of need who cannot be maintained at home, and includes treatment homes, group homes, psychiatric community homes, residential treatment centers, intensive residential treatment, and other types of residential care. In addition to the recommended appropriation in the budget line above, the CSOC Out-of-Home Treatment Services program is to be supported in FY 2020 by a recommended $81.7 million federal funds appropriation and a $7.2 million transfer of funding from the Department of Human Services for substance use disorder treatment programs.

General Fund,

Grants-in-Aid:

Family Support

Services $22,038 $26,969 $4,931 22.4% D-39 The increase in the recommended FY 2020 State funds appropriation for CSOC Family Support Services is mainly attributable to the continuation of a long-term initiative by the Department of Children and Families to place a greater emphasis on providing services to CSOC children in the children’s home environment rather than in out-of-home treatment settings. CSOC Family Support Services funds family support organizations, which are family-run, county-based organizations that provide direct peer support, education, advocacy, and other services to family members of children with emotional and behavioral challenges, substance use disorders, and intellectual and behavioral disabilities.

General Fund,

Grants-in-Aid:

Mobile Response $22,634 $29,537 $6,903 30.5% D-39 This State funds appropriation pays for the majority of the expenditures of the CSOC Mobile Response and Stabilization Services program. Evaluation Data on page D-36 indicate that program expenditures, including those covered by recommended federal funds appropriations, are estimated to total $49.7 million in FY 2020, about $7.3 million more than the FY 2019 cost projection of $42.4 million. The growth is the combined effect of anticipated increases in service utilization ($2.1 million) and the cost per dispatch ($5.2 million). First, the number of dispatches is forecast to increase by 1,555 from 31,100 dispatches in FY 2019 to 32,655 dispatches in FY 2020. Second, the average cost per dispatch is forecast to rise by $159 from $1,363 in FY 2019 to $1,522 in FY 2020.

Department of Children and Families FY 2019-2020

Significant Changes/New Programs ($000) (Cont’d)

Budget Item

Adj. Approp.

FY 2019

Recomm.

FY 2020

Dollar

Change

Percent

Change

Budget

Page

10

The CSOC contracts with community agencies to provide, within one hour of notification, face-to-face mobile response and stabilization services to children and youth who are experiencing emotional or behavioral crises. The program operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Without intervention, children and youth may be at risk of psychiatric hospitalization, being legally detained, loss of living arrangement, etc.

Federal Funds:

Children’s System of

Care $226,326 $234,392 $8,066 3.6% D-40 This budget line aggregates several sources of federal funding the CSOC uses to support its operations. The recommended growth in FY 2020 CSOC federal funds appropriations represents increased federal Medicaid matching funds allocated to three programs: $3.1 million for Out-of-Home Treatment Services attributable predominantly to the accreditation of CSOC’s residential treatment providers as psychiatric residential treatment facilities by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; $3.0 million for Mobile Response as a result of projected increased service utilization and higher costs per dispatch; and $1.9 million for Intensive In-Home Behavioral Assistance as a result of projected higher service utilization. Evaluation Data on page D-36 indicate that the number of dispatches under the Mobile Response and Stabilization Services program is forecast to increase by 1,555 from 31,100 dispatches in FY 2019 to 32,655 dispatches in FY 2020. In addition, the average cost per dispatch is projected to rise by $159 from $1,363 in FY 2019 to $1,522 in FY 2020. Evaluation Data on page D-36 also show that the total number of service hours under the In-Home Behavioral Assistance program is estimated to grow by over 104,000 hours to 1.7 million service hours in FY 2020. The effect of the higher service utilization is somewhat moderated by a projected $2 decrease in the average cost per service hour to $75 in FY 2020.

Department of Children and Families FY 2019-2020

Significant Language Changes

EXPLANATION: FY 2019 language not recommended for FY 2020 denoted by strikethrough. Recommended FY 2020 language that did not appear in FY 2019 denoted by underlining.

11

United Way of Central Jersey Participation in

Medicaid Home Visitation Demonstration Program

Deletion 2019 Handbook: p. B-19 2020 Budget: p. N/A

The amount hereinabove appropriated for Administration and Support Services is conditioned upon the following: the commissioner shall take all necessary steps to assure continued participation by the United Way of Central Jersey, Middlesex County in the Medicaid Home Visitation Demonstration Project established pursuant to P.L.2017, c.50 (C.30:4D-17.39 et seq.).

Explanation

This language provision places a condition on the FY 2019 appropriation for the Administration and Support Services program classification in the Division of Family and Community Partnerships ($813,000). The appropriation is only authorized if the department assures the continued participation by the United Way of Central Jersey, Middlesex County in the Medicaid Home Visitation Demonstration Project established pursuant to P.L.2017, c.50. The language was added to the FY 2019 Appropriations Act pursuant to a Legislative budget resolution. The webpage of the Division of Family and Community Partnerships lists the Nurse Family Partnership of the United Way of Central Jersey as a home visitation early childhood services provider in Middlesex County, but it is not clear whether the organization participates in the Medicaid Home Visitation Demonstration Project. The three-year demonstration project is intended to provide ongoing health and parenting information, parent and family support, and links to essential health and social services during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood. The project is to be implemented in stages, prioritizing the expansion of services in counties with the highest number of births to eligible families in which current home visitation programs provide services to less than 10 percent of the eligible population. Home visitation programs encourage positive behaviors and healthful nutrition to prevent poor pregnancy outcomes; identify health or social concerns that may adversely affect a child’s home environment; and assist parents in developing skills to promote early learning, language development, and early literacy.

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Individuals wishing information and committee schedules on the FY 2020 budget are encouraged to contact:

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