Vitale Bill For Department Of Children And Families Signed Into Law

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would create the Department of Children and Families (DCF) as a standalone department in the executive branch to deal with children’s welfare and family support programs was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today by a vote of 7-0.

“With the restructuring of our State’s child welfare and family programs into a separate department within the executive branch, we are making child safety a priority,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health panel. “Government has no greater obligation than to protect its most vulnerable, and one of the key missions of the new department will be to oversee the State’s DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services) system. We’ve made progress with DYFS reform, but a new department, with its own resources and structured goals, will be able to move us light years ahead of where we currently stand.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Richard J. Codey to create a task force of experts to advise the Governor on the best course of action to preserve mental health services for New Jersey residents living in one of the State’s psychiatric facilities was unanimously approved by the Senate yesterday, receiving final legislative approval.

“With New Jersey facing a budget crisis, and the national recession still having a major negative impact on State finances, the pressure is on to find cost savings anywhere we can,” said Senator Codey, D-Essex, and a long-time champion of mental health services in New Jersey. “However, when it comes to mental health services for our most vulnerable New Jerseyans, we simply have to draw a line in the sand. While we may be able to find cost efficiencies in the State’s mental health system, we need to do so in a manner that respects the integrity of mental health care and preserves needed services and quality of care for New Jerseyans suffering from mental illness.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would create the Department of Children and Families (DCF) as a standalone department in the executive branch to deal with children’s welfare and family support programs was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 38-1, and received final legislative approval from the Assembly by a vote of 71-7, with one abstention.

“Child welfare and family support need to be a top priority in this and every government,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health panel. “By crafting a standalone, cabinet-level department to consolidate New Jersey’s child safety net and family support programs, we are meeting our obligations to children in need in the Garden State.”

TRENTON – Senator Joseph F. Vitale and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan introduced legislation to create a new state Department of Children and Families to coordinate and refocus efforts to reform New Jersey’s child protection services.

The new department would be created by separating out the state’s Office of Children’s Services – which includes the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) -from the Department of Human Services and converting the agency into a stand-alone executive branch department.

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Richard J. Codey to create a task force of experts to advise the Governor on the best course of action to preserve mental health services for New Jersey residents living in one of the State’s psychiatric facilities was unanimously approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today.

“Even during our most difficult economic times, New Jersey has a responsibility to protect our most vulnerable residents,” said Senator Codey, D-Essex, and a long-time champion of mental health services in New Jersey. “Rather than looking only at the dollars and cents impact of cuts to our State’s psychiatric facilities and mental health care safety net, we need to look at the human impact, and how it will affect patients who depend on the care they receive at these facilities. This Task Force would be responsible for recommending an approach which balances cost effectiveness with humane and dignified treatment for people living with mental illness.”