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Discussion on Intro 8 regarding child welfare system reporting requirements

1:25:33

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Council Member Althea V. Stevens inquires about Intro 8, which would amend existing reporting requirements for the child welfare system. Commissioner Jess Dannhauser explains the challenges in implementing the bill due to state law limitations on tracking allegations, particularly regarding substance use.

ACS is supportive of the intent but notes difficulties in tracking specific allegations like marijuana use
Substance use itself is not considered an allegation; the focus is on how it impairs a parent's ability to care for the child
ACS aims to consistently evaluate whether substance misuse affects parenting

Althea V. Stevens

1:25:33

Thank you.

1:25:34

I just have a few more questions on the on some of the legislation agreement today.

1:25:39

Intro 8 would amend existing reporting requirements regarding the child welfare system by requiring ACS to additionally report the main allegations I led to its receipt of re of a report of an opening case and investigation of child abuse or neglect.

1:25:54

The allegation will specifically include parents or caretaker's marijuana usage and and adequate food clothing and shelter.

1:26:01

Is the agency supportive of this bill?

Jess Dannhauser

1:26:06

We're supportive of the intent.

1:26:07

There's a there's difficulties.

1:26:09

The state, law drives what gets tracked as an allegation.

1:26:12

Mhmm.

1:26:13

And so substance use is not an allegation.

1:26:17

It's really a round sort of the whether or not any substance is impairing a a parent's ability to care safely for the child.

1:26:28

So marijuana is not an allegation as an example.

Nadia Swanson

1:26:31

And

Jess Dannhauser

1:26:31

so so someone calls the state center register and says, this parent is using marijuana, that they're not gonna accept that.

1:26:37

And so what we what we wanna do and we talk to the deputy speaker and understand sort of the intent, we wanna make sure we are not as a system that we are consistently looking at whether the substance misuse is affecting parenting.

1:26:57

Yeah.

1:26:57

And if that's sort of if that is the intent of there to be in ways to be able to always have accountability there and make sure we're promoting best practice.

Althea V. Stevens

1:27:05

Yeah.

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ACS policy updates on marijuana use allegations and substance use impact