Summary of Public Comments and Agency Response for Proposed Changes to New Jersey's Manual of Requirements for Resource Family Parents, NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Youth and Family Services (2006)

This document outlines the comments made regarding proposed changes to New Jersey's Manual of Requirements, which sets forth requirements for foster families, also known as "resource families," as well as the response of New Jersey's Department of Human Services, Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), to the comments. In particular, the DYFS's response to CHLP's and Hyacinth Foundation's comments on sexual health care, education, and related rights of children in out-of-home care can be found on pages 8-10. CHLP's and Hyacinth Foundation's original comments can be viewed here. These comments took issue with the proposed new Manual of Requirements' failure to address the sexual health and HIV prevention needs of youth, and the related right of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth to supportive care and freedom from discrimination.

In this document, the DYFS declines to implement the proposals made in CHLP's and Hyacinth Foundation's comments. However, the DYFS states, in general, that most proposed changes are implicit in the current rules, implying that the right to reproductive health care, including medical care, sexuality education, and sensitivity to the needs of LGBTQ youth, are protected by New Jersey law for youth in resource families.

The new Manual of Requirements was subsequently adopted and became effective in 2006, with an expiration of 2011.