CONTRACT FOR SERVICES

(a) The department may contract with one or more persons to provide family preservation services under the pilot program. In a child protective services region in this state in which community-based care under Subchapter B-1, Chapter 264, has been implemented and in which the pilot program is implemented, the department may contract with the single source continuum contractor to provide family preservation services under the pilot program. (b) The contract with the person selected to provide family preservation services must include performance-based measures that require the person to show that as a result of the services: (1) fewer children enter foster care in the pilot program region in comparison to other regions of this state; (2) fewer children are removed from their families after receiving the services in the pilot program region in comparison to other regions of this state; and (3) fewer children enter foster care in the five years following completion of the services in the pilot program region in comparison to other regions of this state. (c) The department shall collaborate with a person selected to provide family preservation services to identify children who are candidates for foster care or who are pregnant or parenting foster youth and to ensure that the services are appropriate for children referred by the department.