Relates to mental health services and resources for child protective services employees

• Republican5

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Monica Martinez says this is needed

This legislation is necessary because child protective services (CPS) employees are frequently exposed to traumatic situations that can nega- tively impact their mental health and wellbeing. CPS employees are responsible for investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect, which can be emotionally and psychologically challenging. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that CPS employees have access to the mental health services and resources they need to maintain their own health and wellbeing while performing their important duties. The inclusion of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and other forms of therapy and counseling is crucial because these services have been shown to be effective in treating trauma-related conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By providing CPS employees with access to these resources, they will be better equipped to manage the stress and trauma they experience in their work and reduce their risk of developing mental health issues. Furthermore, it is important to recognize the significant emotional toll that vicari- ous and secondary trauma can have on CPS employees. Vicarious trauma occurs when individuals are exposed to traumatic events through their work with others, while secondary trauma refers to the emotional stress experienced by those who are in close proximity to traumatized individ- uals. Providing CPS employees with access to resources and information on how to manage vicarious and- secondary trauma is an important step in supporting their mental health and wellbeing. Overall, this legislation is a necessary step towards promoting the health and wellbeing of CPS employees, who play a critical role i n protecting the safety and wellbeing of children in our communities.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.