Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill into law that adds new safeguards to Florida’s child protection system.
The new law aims to combat child sex trafficking by requiring the Department of Children and Families to collect more data about where children in state care are placed. The goal is to keep them away from commercial sexual exploitation.
It requires DCF to recruit case managers and child protective investigators who are retired first responders, law enforcement officers and others with special skills.
DCF must collaborate with community-based care lead agencies to develop recommendations to improve case management.
And the department will establish a four-year foster care pilot program for children with complex mental health needs. They will be placed with specially trained foster families.
