(a) Legal and policy issues pertaining to the foster care system in this state;

(b) Monitoring accountability in the foster care system by measuring outcomes, including but not limited to the following:

(A) Increasing the number of children committed to the custody of the Department of Human Services who are placed with family members, relatives or next of kin;

(B) Decreasing the number of placements in, and removals from, substitute care for individual children committed to the custody of the department;

(C) Decreasing the length of time children spend in substitute care;

(D) Decreasing incidences of abuse, neglect and maltreatment for children in substitute care;

(E) Increasing the number of children who receive permanent placements within 24 months of entering substitute care;

(F) Decreasing the number of children who, upon becoming ineligible for substitute care, have not achieved independent living status;

(G) Increasing the number of children who are placed with adoptive parents within 12 months of termination of the parental rights of a child’s biological parents;

(H) Reducing demographic disproportionality in substitute care;

(I) Increasing the number of families involved in the foster care system receiving services and assistance to make it possible for children in substitute care to safely return home; and

(J) Increasing the number of families involved in the foster care system having access to culturally relevant services;

(c) Necessary and recommended improvements to the internal operations of the department, including but not limited to the following:

(A) Monitoring, licensing and supervision of foster care providers;

(B) Caseload management;

(C) Procedures for investigation of abuses and deficiencies;

(D) Recruitment, training and retention of foster parents; and

(E) Quality assurance;

(d) Recommendations to improve and expand the availability of foster care and, where applicable, to provide alternatives to foster care for children who are in need of care and services;

(e) Promotion of responsible statewide advocacy for children in foster care; and

(f) Ongoing review of foster care providers in this state and the identification of barriers to the provision of quality care and services to children in the foster care system.

(2) In undertaking the commission’s responsibilities under subsection (1) of this section, the commission shall consider reports, findings and recommendations that have been or will be issued by legislative and agency task forces, work groups and committees that have undertaken study, review or oversight of the foster care system in this state.

(3) The commission may establish any advisory or technical committees the commission considers necessary to aid and advise the commission in the performance of its functions. The committees may be continuing or temporary committees. The commission shall determine the representation, membership, terms and organization of the committees and shall appoint the members of the committees. Members of the committees are not entitled to compensation but, in the discretion of the commission, may be reimbursed from funds available to the commission for actual and necessary travel and other expenses incurred by the members in the performance of official duties in the manner and amount provided in ORS 292.495.

(4) The commission may adopt rules to carry out the provisions of this section. [2016 c.76 §4]

Note: See first note under 418.041.