The child advocate’s report outlines state agency concerns about a foster father’s alleged drinking habits — and a failure to act on them.
Connecticut DCF
Posted inHealth
As DCF’s Katz bows out, the risky world of child protection awaits new administration
Joette Katz, who served under Gov. Dannel P. Malloy for eight years, is resigning next month after what is believed to be one of the longest tenures leading a state child-protection agency in the nation. But it wasn’t always easy. Despite Malloy’s loyalty to her, Katz’s abrasive personality, refusal to back down from controversial decisions, and her decision to march the child protection agency in a new and sometimes perilous direction, resulted in a rocky eight years.
Posted inEducation
State watchdog: Infant’s neglect suggests systemic failure at DCF
Doctors determined that an infant placed by the Department of Children and Families with relatives had been malnourished for months, had weeks-old breaks in bones in both arms, a brain bleed and numerous other injuries. A state watchdog report released Tuesday called the case an “utter collapse of all safeguards,” while DCF says it was an outlier.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Better outcomes in CT juvenile justice — and potentially savings, too
With the state’s new fiscal reality as background, the Children’s League of Connecticut has offered a number of policy based solutions meant to improve the quality of life for youth and families served by the Connecticut juvenile justice system. In many cases these concepts will result in lower costs to taxpayers and in all cases we believe our suggestions will result in better outcomes for youth and their families — which should be everyone’s goal.
Posted inEducation
Federal court monitor: Foster children’s needs still unmet
Foster children in Connecticut are still not getting all the mental health services, child care and housing supports they need, partly because the programs are not available, a federal court monitor reported Wednesday.
Posted inNews
Op-Ed: DCF Commissioner Katz is right; children belong in families
Connecticut has made remarkable strides in improving its array of services and evidence-based programs to ensure more kids can grow and thrive in families. Commissioner Joette Katz has not rejected group placement as an option; she has merely required the justification that taking kids away from families demands.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
DCF Commissioner Katz is right; children belong in families
Connecticut has made remarkable strides in improving its array of services and evidence-based programs to ensure more kids can grow and thrive in families. Commissioner Joette Katz has not rejected group placement as an option; she has merely required the justification that taking kids away from families demands.
Posted inEducation
CT Supreme Court to rule on order barring reporting of juvenile case
Can a Connecticut court bar publication of a news story when information from a confidential juvenile court proceeding makes its way to the media? That’s the question the Connecticut Supreme Court will answer after New Britain Superior Court Judge Stephen Frazzini last week ordered the Connecticut Law Tribune not to publish a story involving a child protection case before him.
Posted inEducation
New caseworkers expected to ease load on overworked DCF staff
Caseworkers for the Department of Children and Families have unreasonably high workloads and are looking for relief, which may come from the 81 new staff members stepping into their ranks, the department’s court-appointed overseer says.