1

Legislative BriefingFebruary 9, 2012

Legislative BriefingFebruary 9, 2012

Commissioner Joette KatzDepartment of Children and Families

2

2011 Legislative Accomplishments

3

2011 Legislative Accomplishments

established the Differential Response System as a way to respond to lower-risk reports of abuse and neglect;

provides the DCF Commissioner with the authority to waive any standard for separate bedrooms and room-sharing arrangements when placing a child in relative foster care;

prohibits a child or youth from being found to be neglected solely because his or her parents are impoverished;

changed the confidentiality statute to allow the Department to share more information with foster parents and providers;

expands the law governing the reporting and investigation of suspected child abuse and neglect, in school settings and specifies how school districts respond to such reports;

4

2011 Legislative Accomplishments. . . continued

expands a student's right to re-enroll in his or her old school district after being sent to a juvenile detention center, the Connecticut Juvenile Training School or other residential facility and requires school districts and charter schools to give students credit for instruction received in the Department's Unified School District #2;

establishes a process for the cross-reporting of child abuse and animal cruelty

5

2011 PolicyInitiatives

6

2011 Policy Initiatives

over 1,000 staff have been trained in Partners in Change, Family Centered Assessment and Purposeful Visits, which are the foundation of the Strengthening Families Practice Model;

final preparations for Differential Response are underway, with the goal of awarding contracts for the community partner agencies and implementing DRS in early 2012;

implemented recommendations from the report The Future of Riverview Hospital for Children and Youth: Ten Steps Forward to consolidate administrative operations of Riverview Hospital and Connecticut Children’s Place (to be renamed Solnit Center – North & South Campuses)

announced visits are being used with families whenever possible; congregate care rightsizing has begun and we have seen significant

reductions in the number of young children placed in congregate care settings and the number children placed out of state;

7

2011 Policy Initiatives. . . continued

more children are placed in family settings and we have begun to implement additional supports to foster families as outlined in the We All Need Somebody: Supporting Children, Families and the Workforce in Connecticut’s Family Foster Care System report;

the Community-Based Services Outcomes Work Group has begun to develop expected outcomes for in-home services and has gathered staff input on the effectiveness of many service types;

surveyed consumers, implementing fiscal consequences for providers who do not provide mandated data consistent with RBA principles

each region has developed a strategic plan to continue to improve case planning practice, with the goal of achieving better outcomes for the children and families we serve.

8

Relative Placement

% Children Placed In Relative Homes

15.3% 15.6% 15.7% 16.0%16.5%

16.9%17.6%

18.0%18.8% 18.8% 19.1% 19.1%

19.8%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

J an-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11 May-11 J un-11 J ul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov-11 Dec-11 J an-12

9

Out-of-State Placements

10

Congregate Care Placements

# Children Ages 6 and Under In Congregate Care

911

9 10 11

16

20

25

3335

4038 38

0

10

20

30

40

J an-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11 May-11 J un-11 J ul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov-11 Dec-11 J an-12

# Children Ages 12 and Under In Congregate Care

140128

121 123112

200201 201191

183 178164

155

0

100

200

J an-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 Apr-11 May-11 J un-11 J ul-11 Aug-11 Sep-11 Oct-11 Nov-11 Dec-11 J an-12

11

DifferentialResponse System

12

Family Assessment Response

What is a Family Assessment Response?

A Family Assessment Response is a program that: Believes all families have strengths and abilities Keeps children safe Doesn't blame Works together with parents and their supports Provides services and resources to help meet the needs of families Helps connect families to their community

13

Family Assessment Response

The Family Assessment Response requires an active engagement and collaboration with families and their communities.

Engaging families to identify possible solutions to mitigate safety factors, reduce risk and address family needs will ultimately promote children's safety, well-being and improve family functioning. Children are safer and families are stronger when communities work together.

Rather than a formal determination of abuse or neglect, the outcome is a determination of whether services are needed to strengthen families and promote child well-being.

14

Family Assessment Response –Key Definitions

Family Assessment Response - A Family Assessment Response is an alternative to a traditional investigation. It is a strength-based, family focused model that works together with families to identify their strengths, needs and to help connect families with services and supports in the community.

Child and Family Team Meeting - A family and community centered approach designed to help families have a voice and direct input into plans that are developed to ensure the safety and well-being of children, meet family needs and to strengthen the family unit. It is a preferred forum for the family and their support systems to come together and develop a plan to address concerns and/or provide assistance and support on an on-going basis or in times of need.

Community Partner Agency - Contracted agencies throughout the state will engage families referred by DCF and connect them to concrete, traditional and non-traditional resources and services in the community.

Community Teams - The range of supports available at both the neighborhood and local community level to create sustainable connections for family members.

Community Support Teams - Staff members of the Community Partner Agency.

15

Family Assessment Response – Key Practice Points

utilize a strength-based approach to partner with the family; assure the safety and well-being of children through evidence based

tools; engage supports, resources and services to address identified needs, at

the family’s discretion; provide linkage to supportive community networks that offer

assistance; and collaborate with the community regarding available services and

supports.

16

2012 DCF Legislative Agenda

17

DCF 2012 Legislative Agenda

Finalization of Adoptions by the Superior Court for Juvenile Matters decreased the length of time between termination of parental rights

(TPR) and adoption will permit adoptions to occur at the Superior Court for Juvenile

Matters that issued the TPR, rather than Probate Court. Child Interview in Abuse and Neglect Cases

permits DCF to interview a child in a child protective investigation without parental consent in circumstances when obtaining such consent shall place the child at risk of harm.

Revising Various Statutes Concerning the Department of Children and Families Makes technical and/or minor changes to various DCF statutes,

including:

18

DCF 2012 Legislative Agenda. . . continued

amends various statutes concerning the reporting of child abuse and neglect. Sections 1 and 2 reorganizes the statutes regarding the failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect by a mandated reporter under CGS 17a-101 and 17a-101a. Section 3 clarifies jurisdiction under CGS 17a-101e regarding the false reporting of child abuse and neglect. modifies the membership of the State Advisory Council on Children and Families to include representation from each of the Regional Advisory Councils.

revises the appointing authority for sixteen of the members of the Children's Behavioral Health Advisory Committee.

makes technical and minor changes to the DCF confidentiality and access to records statute.

renames Riverview Hospital in Middletown and Connecticut Children's Place in East Windsor, the Albert J. Solnit Children's Psychiatric Center (North and South Campuses).

establishes a procedure for individuals whose names have been on the registry for at least five years to show good cause for removal.

waives the fee for certified copies of criminal records for DCF employees acting in the performance of their duties.

repeals a property conveyance concerning property owned by DCF at the former Long Lane School in Middletown.