Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

DCF reports placing more children with family members

  • by Jacqueline Rabe Thomas
  • July 11, 2011
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

The state Department of Children and Families, which has been criticized for failing to place children removed from their homes with relatives, has started to reverse the trend, according to figures released Monday.

Four months ago, just 14 percent of the state’s 4,700 foster children lived with relatives. That figure has increased to 17 percent, according to numbers reported to a statewide panel of relatives, foster parents and providers Monday. That change means 140 more children were placed with family members rather than in congregate care facilities or with strangers in foster homes.

sabra mayo

Sabra Mayo, whose grandson was 18 years old before DCF would let him live with her, is thankful things are finally changing

“That may not sound like a lot, but it is for those children,” DCF Commissioner Joette Katz said. “There has been this idea that the apple does not fall far from the tree and children should not be placed with family. Well, that is the wrong way of thinking.”

Those words prompted an immediate reaction from Sabra Mayo, a member of the State Advisory Panel who unsuccessfully fought for years to get her grandson placed with her rather than a series of foster homes.

“Thank God. It’s about time,” she said.

The numbers provided by DCF earlier this year show the agency’s record of placing children with family members has declined over the last decade. Ten years ago, one out of every four children was placed with a relative when it was determined they could not remain in their home, which was in line with the national rates. Today, just one in every six foster children is sent to live with a relative–one of the lowest rates in the nation.

The Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that while fewer percentages of children are being placed with family members over the last three fiscal years, the overall number of children in state custody to begin with significantly declined.

Katz, who said increasing placement with relatives was one of her priorities when she took office earlier this year, initiated several changes in DCF to move toward that goal.

To start, the agency has made it easier for relatives to be approved as foster parents. In the past, relatives were required to meet the same standards as strangers. Twice as many waivers of those rules were issued in the first four months of this year than were granted in all of last year.

One of those requirements–having a separate bedroom for each child–is what Mayo said prevented her from being able to get custody of her grandson. The rules also require that every bedroom have a window and bar relatives who may have old criminal convictions from taking in children.

But Fernando Muniz, chief of quality and planning for DCF, said that laundry list of requirements are not longer the final say, as they too often were before.

“If they have a conviction from 20 years ago and all the other evidence now signals they would be a good placement, then we will make that happen,” said Fernando Muniz, chief of quality and planning for DCF. “We’ve always had this waiver process but it was onerous and not heavily used.”

Following the presentation of the updated figures, Munique Reid, a foster child herself and the youth representative on the SAC, broke down in tears. Reid explained she has routinely seen her friends “get stuck in the system” and not allowed to live with relatives.

“It’s really ridiculous seeing all they’ve had to go through,” she said.

Katz, whose goal is to place half of all foster children with relatives, said not only are more children already remaining with their families, but she expects that number to continue to increase.

“We are really ramping up opportunities for families to keep their children,” she said.

And Reid hopes she’s right.

“I hope things do change. They really have to,” she said.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
The state’s largest COVID vaccine center is up and running — but so far, there’s no formal plan to pay for it.
by Jenna Carlesso and Dave Altimari

State officials say the vaccine rollout is similar to the mass testing plans and hunt for protective equipment last spring.

Pandemic eases, and complicates, legislating
by Mark Pazniokas

The legislature’s Labor and Public Employees Committee co-chairs skipped the masks, but they were very socially distant.

A call to save arms: is vaccination really the solution?
by Genevieve Diamant

Economic modelling done by professional statisticians is often used to claim that the ounce of prevention provided by a vaccine is much better than the pound of cure that well-funded hospitals, fully staffed with professional nurses and doctors, using effective pharmaceutical remedies, can provide. But is this actually true?

School vouchers are a quick way to correct racial injustice
by Joseph Bentivegna MD

When I was in first grade, I was mistakenly given an eighth-grade portion of food that I could not possibly finish. As I was presenting my uneaten portion to the woman at the garbage disposal, a redoubtable nun towering over me said, “Joseph, the pagan babies in Africa are starving and you’re wasting that good food.” I responded, “Sister, if I eat the food, the pagan babies still won’t get it.” Wap! The nun backhanded me across my face and the tray went flying.

Letter to representatives in opposition to the Transportation and Climate Initiative
by Viewpoints Contributor

I have one question, when is enough, enough? I am a lifelong Cheshire resident writing in opposition to the recent rejoining of TCI (Transportation and Climate Initiative) and the gas price hike that will result.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion A call to save arms: is vaccination really the solution?
by Genevieve Diamant

Economic modelling done by professional statisticians is often used to claim that the ounce of prevention provided by a vaccine is much better than the pound of cure that well-funded hospitals, fully staffed with professional nurses and doctors, using effective pharmaceutical remedies, can provide. But is this actually true?

Opinion School vouchers are a quick way to correct racial injustice
by Joseph Bentivegna MD

When I was in first grade, I was mistakenly given an eighth-grade portion of food that I could not possibly finish. As I was presenting my uneaten portion to the woman at the garbage disposal, a redoubtable nun towering over me said, “Joseph, the pagan babies in Africa are starving and you’re wasting that good food.” I responded, “Sister, if I eat the food, the pagan babies still won’t get it.” Wap! The nun backhanded me across my face and the tray went flying.

Opinion Letter to representatives in opposition to the Transportation and Climate Initiative
by Viewpoints Contributor

I have one question, when is enough, enough? I am a lifelong Cheshire resident writing in opposition to the recent rejoining of TCI (Transportation and Climate Initiative) and the gas price hike that will result.

Opinion Healthcare: The key to a new age of economic development
by Stephanie Thomas

Connecticut needs affordable health care options so that businesses and nonprofits, which are integral contributors to our state economy, can exist and thrive.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO