DCF relative placement changes are on the way. This is great news for families in Connecticut.
Relatives should always be given priority for placement when a child comes into DCF custody. Unfortunately, I find this process varies depending on the DCF Office involved. Now comes some new law that should help get children placed with family rather than end up in non-relative foster care.
Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-129(b) has been amended to require that in all cases DCF shall investigate any relative proposed to serve as a licensed foster parent or temporary custodian for a child or youth prior to the preliminary OTC hearing and provide a preliminary report to the court as to the relative’s suitability and any potential barriers to licensing such relative as a foster parent or granting temporary custody of such child to the relative.
Essentially, this requires DCF to include in the preliminary report it submits to the Juvenile Court the any potential barriers to licensing a relative as a foster parent or granting him or her temporary custody of the child. Previously this was required only “where practicable.”
In addition, the new law requires DCF to report to the state legislature regarding its compliance with foster care licensing laws and regulations; methods of assessing needs of children in foster care and providing support for foster parents; safeguards that DCF uses when seeking to license a caregiver who has a history with DCF, a psychiatric illness or a criminal record; DCF’s process for reversing substantiations or registry findings for prospective foster care license holders; the results of DCF’s audits of licensure practices; the number of reports involving children in DCF licensed foster homes, the percentage of reports that were substantiated, and any resulting licensure actions; and information on the number and type of licensed foster home safety concerns the department identified through its assessment of its regulatory compliance system and any corresponding corrective actions it took.
A link to the new law appears below:
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2017/ACT/pa/2017PA-00092-R00SB-00895-PA.htm
Contact me online or call my Fairfield office at (203) 259-5251 or my Stamford office at (203) 356-1475 if you have questions about DCF relative placement.