OLR Bill Analysis
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO PLACE ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN THE CARE OF FAMILIES RATHER THAN INSTITUTIONS.
This bill directs the Department of Children and Families (DCF) commissioner, within existing budgetary resources, to establish a pilot program to (1) place children in family settings rather than institutional or congregate facilities and (2) transfer children already in these facilities into family settings. It requires the commissioner to report on the pilot program's results to the Appropriations and Children's committees by October 1, 2010. The bill does not specify how many children the pilot program must serve.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009
PILOT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED
The bill requires the DCF commissioner to establish a pilot program to (1) place children in a family setting with qualified foster parents or relative caregivers instead of in an institutional or congregate facility and (2) transfer children currently in these facilities into a family setting. Under the bill, an institutional or congregate facility includes a group home, hospital, state institution, receiving home, custodial institution, or other residential treatment facility.
The pilot program covers children in DCF custody or care pursuant to a temporary custody order or commitment order. When selecting participants, the commissioner must maximize cost savings while ensuring that the placement is in the child's best interest.
REPORT
The report must include:
1. the number, ages, and participation dates of the pilot program participants;
2. for children transferred from an institutional or congregate facility to a family setting, the period of time each child lived in such a facility;
3. the estimated state cost for each child if the child had been placed or remained in an institutional or congregate facility and a brief explanation of how these estimates were calculated;
4. service costs associated with placing each child in a family setting; and
5. for each child transferred from an institutional or congregate facility to a family setting, a brief statement comparing the child's well-being in the facility to the family setting.
BACKGROUND
Legislative History
The House referred the bill (File 59) to the Appropriations Committee, which reported a substitute that requires the DCF commissioner to establish the pilot program within existing budgetary resources.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Human Services Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea |
15 |
Nay |
3 |
(02/26/2009) |
Appropriations Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea |
52 |
Nay |
3 |
(04/23/2009) |