STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANDREA KATZ
District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington)
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Danielsen
SYNOPSIS
Requires Division of Child Protection and Permanency to develop suicide screening and crisis response training for caseworkers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act requiring Division of Child Protection and Permanency to develop a suicide screening and crisis response training for caseworkers and supplementing Title 9 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in this act:
“Caseworker” means an employee of the Department of Children and Families, Division of Child Protection and Permanency, whose duties shall include, but not be limited to, investigating allegations of child abuse or neglect, conducting home visits and assessments, developing and monitoring case plans, arranging and supervising placements, coordinating services with families and providers, and supporting permanency and adoption outcomes.
“Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Children and Families.
“Division” means the Division of Child Protection and Permanency.
2. a. The Division of Child Protection and Permanency shall develop and adopt a training course and curriculum on suicide screening and crisis response planning education for the Division of Child Protection and Permanency caseworkers on:
(1) recognizing warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors for suicide in children and adolescents through hands-on use of validated suicide prevention tools such as the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale;
(2) establishing protocols for responding when a child is identified as at risk, including immediate de-escalation techniques; and
(3) coordinating care with mental health professionals, schools, resource parents, and community supports.
b. The division shall ensure that:
(1) the training course is part of each Division of Child Protection and Permanency caseworker’s initial training and, biennially, as part of the in-service training provided to each caseworker, as appropriate; and
(2) every caseworker hired by the division prior to the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall, within 24 months of the effective date of
P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), satisfactorily complete the training course developed and adopted pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
c. The Division shall periodically review the training course and curriculum established pursuant to this act, and shall update the course and curriculum as necessary to ensure their continued effectiveness and relevance.
3. The Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families may adopt rules and regulations, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), if necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act.
4. This act shall take effect on the 180th day following enactment, except that the Commissioner may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of the act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (the division) to develop a training course and curriculum on suicide screening and crisis response planning. The training course and curriculum developed is to be on:
(1) recognizing warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors for suicide in children and adolescents through hands-on use of validated suicide prevention tools such as the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale;
(2) establishing protocols for responding when a child is identified as at risk, including immediate de-escalation techniques; and
(3) coordinating care with mental health professionals, schools, resource parents, and community supports.
The division is to ensure that:
(1) the training course is part of each caseworker’s initial training and, biennially, as part of the in-service training provided to each caseworker, as appropriate; and
(2) every caseworker hired by the division prior to the effective date of this bill, within 24 months of the effective date of this bill, is to satisfactorily complete the training course developed and adopted.
The Division is to periodically review the training course and curriculum established pursuant to this bill, and is to update the course and curriculum as necessary.