Section 441.153.12. Implementation requirements.

The decategorization initiative shall be implemented through the creation and operation of decategorization projects. One or more counties may jointly agree to form a decategorization project to implement the initiative. The decategorization initiative shall be implemented in accordance with the following requirements:

       153.12(1) Decategorization agreement. Representatives from the department, juvenile court services, and county government within the county or counties interested in forming a decategorization project shall develop a written agreement to work together to implement decategorization.

       153.12(2) Department approval. A decategorization project must request and receive approval from the department director.

       153.12(3) Governance board. A decategorization project shall be implemented by a decategorization governance board.

        a.           The department director shall ensure that each decategorization project has an operating governance board that includes:

       (1)             Representatives designated by administrators of the department and of juvenile court services; and

       (2)             Officials with the authority to represent county government in the affected county or counties.

        b.           Decategorization projects may choose to expand their governance boards to include representatives from other entities.

       153.12(4) Department information. The service area manager shall provide the governance board with:

        a.           Information concerning the department service area’s funding allocation for department-administered child welfare service programs; and

        b.           A copy of the service area’s child welfare and juvenile justice annual plan.

       153.12(5) Juvenile justice information. The chief juvenile court officer shall provide the governance board with information on the judicial district’s allocation of funding for juvenile justice service programs.

       153.12(6) Support and coordination. The department service area manager and the chief juvenile court officer shall:

        a.           Work with the governance board throughout each state fiscal year to coordinate planning and to target resources most effectively.

        b.           Regularly provide the governance board with available data concerning child welfare and juvenile justice needs, service trends and expenditures, child welfare and juvenile justice outcomes, and other relevant issues.

        c.           Work with the governance board to:

       (1)             Support board planning and service development; and

       (2)             Promote effective alignment of available financial resources to enhance preventive, family-centered, and community-based services.