2015 -- H 5642 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC001637/SUB A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - RHODE ISLAND FAMILY HOME VISITING

ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, and Naughton

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2015

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     WHEREAS, A child's first experiences and relationships set the foundation for

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development and learning that lead to success in school and in life. Voluntary, high-quality,

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evidence-based home visiting programs help build parenting skills and address challenges faced

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by many vulnerable families with young children.

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     WHEREAS, Children in at-risk families who participate in evidence-based home visiting

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programs have improved language, cognitive, and social emotional development and are less

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likely to experience child abuse and neglect. Families who participate are more likely to provide a

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safe, enriching home environment and become more economically secure through education and

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employment. Evidence-based home visiting programs can also improve maternal and child

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health, reducing long-term health care costs.

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     WHEREAS, There is an existing infrastructure of home visiting programs in Rhode

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Island that provides early supportive services to vulnerable families with young children who are

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at risk for poor outcomes.

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     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 13.7

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THE RHODE ISLAND FAMILY HOME VISITING ACT

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     23-13.7-1. Short title. -- This chapter may be known and may be citied as "The Rhode

 

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Island Family Home Visiting Act."

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     23-13.7-2. Home visiting system components. -- (a) The Rhode Island department of

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health coordinates the system of early childhood home visiting services in Rhode Island and

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works with the department of human services and department of children, youth and families to

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identify effective, evidence-based home visiting models that meet the needs of vulnerable

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families with young children.

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     (b) The Rhode Island department of health implements a statewide home visiting system

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which uses evidence-based models proven to improve child and family outcomes. Evidence-

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based home visiting programs must follow with fidelity a program model with comprehensive

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standards that ensure high-quality service delivery, use research-based curricula, and have

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demonstrated significant positive outcomes in at least two (2) of the following areas:

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     (1) Improve prenatal, maternal, infant or child health outcomes.

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     (2) Improve safety and reduce child maltreatment and injury.

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     (3) Improve family economic security and self-sufficiency

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     (4) Enhance early childhood development (social-emotional, language, cognitive,

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physical) to improve children's readiness to succeed in school.

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     (c) The Rhode Island department of health implements a system to identify and refer

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families prenatally or as early after the birth of a child as possible to voluntary, evidence-based

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home visiting programs. The referral system prioritizes families for services based on risk factors

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known to impair child development, including:

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     (1) Adolescent parent(s);

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     (2) History of prenatal drug or alcohol abuse;

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     (3) History of child maltreatment, domestic abuse, or other types of violence;

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     (4) Incarcerated parent(s);

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     (5) Reduced parental cognitive functioning or significant disability;

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     (6) Insufficient financial resources to meet family needs;

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     (7) History of homelessness; and

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     (8) Other risk factors as determined by the department.

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     (d) Beginning on or before October 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, the Rhode Island

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department of health shall issue a state home visiting report that outlines the components of the

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state's family home visiting system which shall be made publicly available on the department's

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website. The report shall include:

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     (1) The number of families served by each evidence-based model;

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     (2) Demographic data on families served;

 

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     (3) Duration of participation of families;

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     (4) Cross-departmental coordination; and

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     (5) Outcomes related to prenatal, maternal, infant and child health, child maltreatment,

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family economic security, and child development and school readiness.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - RHODE ISLAND FAMILY HOME VISITING

ACT

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     This act would establish the Rhode Island Family Home Visiting Act. The Rhode Island

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department of health coordinates the system of early childhood visiting services to meet the needs

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of vulnerable families with young children.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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