Connecticut lawmakers look to make changes to DCF, child welfare
The Connecticut Legislature’s Children’s Committee is looking at reforms around child welfare as the Department of Children and Families (DCF) continues to face scrutiny.
The committee is considering two bills: one that would require more oversight when families withdraw children from public schools, and another that would make changes to DCF.
“For so long, child welfare reform has followed tragedy, and this bill builds the guardrails before tragedy happens,” said Rep. Corey Paris (D-Stamford), a co-chairman of the Children’s Committee.
One proposal would require public schools notify DCF when a family withdraws their child. If DCF has an active case involving that family, a social worker would include the notification in the file.
The interim state Child Advocate Christine Ghio has raised concerns that some families have withdrawn children after being the subject of a DCF complaint.
“Our system right now is parents simply need to tell a school, ‘Hey, I’m going to homeschool my child going forward,’ and that’s it,” Ghio said.
She raised that concern after a Waterbury man who goes by “S” started a fire in his home last year to draw attention to, he claims, decades of abuse. His family pulled him from school and claimed they were going to homeschool him for years prior.
Other homeschool families are worried DCF could use this notification to launch more investigations, though.
“Why don’t we hold criminals accountable in this state, instead of being soft on crime, and leave law-abiding citizens alone,” C. Marcella Kurowski, of Wallingford, said.
There appears to be bipartisan support for a DCF reform bill that includes more training.
The bill would also require DCF to contact other child welfare agencies when a child under its oversight is outside Connecticut for 14 days. DCF should try to arrange an in-person visit, but the bill would allow for a video conference call when that’s not possible.
The bill would also create an oversight committee to develop additional recommendations.
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