House Bill 5004 came in the wake of a slew of tragedies involving children who were under the watch of the agency.
Laura Tillman
Laura Tillman is CT Mirror’s Human Services Reporter. She shares responsibility for covering housing, child protection, mental health and addiction, developmental disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. Laura began her career in journalism at the Brownsville Herald in 2007, covering the U.S.–Mexico border, and worked as a statehouse reporter for the Associated Press in Mississippi. She was most recently a producer of the national security podcast “In the Room with Peter Bergen” and is the author of two nonfiction books: The Long Shadow of Small Ghosts (2016) and The Migrant Chef: The Life and Times of Lalo Garcia (2023), which was just awarded the 2024 James Beard Award for literary writing. Her freelance work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. Laura holds a degree in International Studies from Vassar College and an MFA in nonfiction writing from Goucher College.
Posted inHuman Services
CT child advocate: Letter to DCF ensured child death did not go ‘unnoticed’
The child advocate said she “could not allow” the child’s apparent suicide and DCF’s handling of the case to go “unnoticed.”
Posted inHuman Services
Child Advocate letter points to DCF failings as CT House approves new oversight
In a letter, Connecticut’s Office of the Child Advocate condemned the declining quality of casework at the child welfare agency.
Posted inJustice
CT seeks to claim money from ‘Mimi’ Torres-García’s father
Officials say Victor Torres owes more than $300,000 for the cost of his incarceration. CT seeks to recover the debt from any settlement.
Posted inHuman Services
CT House passes bill to protect people with disabilities from abuse, neglect
More training for DDS workers could be added after a report cited more than 4,000 allegations of abuse and neglect in 2024.
Posted inHuman Services
CT bill criminalizing female genital mutilation gets final passage
Lawmakers gave final passage to a bill that makes female genital mutilation a crime in CT, an action advocates for several years have sought.
Posted inImmigration
Cheshire welcomes home high school student detained by ICE
Elected officials, teachers and activists gathered in Cheshire Friday to welcome back Rihan, a high school senior detained by ICE weeks ago.
Posted inImmigration
Teachers of Cheshire student detained by ICE await his return
The teachers of a Cheshire student detained by ICE this month say he was “clearly deeply appreciative of this opportunity” to study in U.S.
Posted inHuman Services
DCF involved in Enfield case a week before 12-year-old was found dead
News of DCF’s involvement with the family comes as the CT agency faces heavy scrutiny and questions about its handling of other investigations.
Posted inHuman Services
After tragedies, CT lawmakers seek DCF reforms
House Bill 5004 would make changes to the CT Department of Children and Families, some intended to address issues raised by recent tragedies.
Posted inImmigration
CT officials: ICE detention of Cheshire student is ‘un-American’
In 2025, ICE detained an Afghan interpreter and Cheshire resident, releasing him after 4 months. On Monday, ICE detained his 19-year-old son.
Posted inEducation
Advocates press for promised pre-K funding as CT surplus in doubt
The fund was supposed to rely on $300 million of surplus funds, but with that drying up, advocates want another way to secure $600 million.
Posted inEducation
Eve Rogers’ death in Enfield intensifies homeschool rules debate
Despite calls to regulate homeschooling to prevent abuse, opposition has been fierce, and many lawmakers have opposed the legislation.
Posted inHealth
UConn Health to take over DCF-run psychiatric facility
The UConn Health board approved a plan to take over adolescent psychiatric services at DCF-run Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center.
Posted inImmigration
Citizenship ceremonies in CT imbued with mixed emotions amid ICE crackdown
For many, going through naturalization now brings with it guilt and concern for foreign-born residents who have been shut out of the process.
