2023 Connecticut General Statutes › Title 17a - Social and Human Services and Resources › Chapter 319 - Department of Children and Families › Section 17a-10e. - Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations. Meeting between caseworker and child.

(a) There is created a Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations, which shall pertain to each child placed in out-of-home care by the Commissioner of Children and Families pursuant to an order of temporary custody or commitment.
(b) The Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations ensures that, absent extraordinary circumstances related to a child's health or safety or unless otherwise indicated in a case plan prepared pursuant to section 17a-15 for a child, any child placed in out-of-home care by the Commissioner of Children and Families pursuant to an order of temporary custody or commitment has the right to:
(1) Develop and maintain the child's own values, hopes, goals, religion, spirituality and identity, including, but not limited to, racial, sexual and gender identity, in a safe and caring environment;
(2) Visitation or ongoing contact with the child's parents, siblings, extended family and friends, and assistance in connecting or reconnecting with the child's birth family if desired;
(3) Be placed in a safe environment in the child's home community and preplacement visits to such placement when possible;
(4) Meaningful participation in the development of the child's case plan pursuant to section 17a-15 and permanency plan pursuant to sections 17a-11, 17a-111b and 46b-129, including, but not limited to, the ability to participate in and select individuals of the child's choice to participate in meetings concerning such plans;
(5) Meaningful and regular in-person contact with the child's caseworker, who shall respond to the child's telephone calls and correspondence in a timely manner; and
(6) Stability and support in all aspects of the child's education.
(c) The Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations ensures that, absent extraordinary circumstances related to a child's health or safety or unless otherwise indicated in a child's case plan, the guardian or guardians of each child placed in out-of-home care by the Commissioner of Children and Families pursuant to an order of temporary custody or commitment shall:
(1) Maintain a healthy relationship with the child by emphasizing trust, understanding, empathy and communication;
(2) Set appropriate boundaries with respect to curfews, homework and household responsibilities in order to provide a stable living environment;
(3) Assist the child in building life skills, including, but not limited to, grocery shopping and cooking meals, personal financial management and washing laundry;
(4) Assist the child in obtaining legal documents and licenses, including, but not limited to, a birth certificate, Social Security card, state identification card and motor vehicle operator's license;
(5) Assist the child in participating in extracurricular and personal enrichment activities and obtaining networking and employment skills;
(6) Apply the same age-appropriate household rules and provide the same opportunities to all children residing in the home, including, but not limited to, participation in family activities and vacations;
(7) Participate in therapy sessions with the child upon request or when appropriate;
(8) Participate in additional foster parent training programs when possible; and
(9) Permit the child to have age-appropriate personal privacy and privacy with respect to personal items and communications, including, but not limited to, journals, diaries, letters, electronic mail, telephone calls and text messages.
(d) The caseworker of any child placed in an out-of-home placement by the Commissioner of Children and Families pursuant to an order of temporary custody or commitment shall meet in private with the child annually and any time the child is placed in a new out-of-home placement, provided the child is of an appropriate age. At such meeting, the caseworker shall: (1) Provide the child with a copy of the Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations, (2) review the Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations with the child, (3) explain to the child that the child may contact the caseworker, the child's attorney, the Department of Children and Families regional office, the Office of Community Relations within the Department of Children and Families or the Office of the Child Advocate if the child feels that his or her rights have been violated or expectations have not been met under the Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations, and provide the child with contact information for such caseworker, such regional office, the Office of Community Relations within the Department of Children and Families and the Office of the Child Advocate, and (4) explain to the child that if the child is in physical danger or experiences a medical emergency, the child may dial or send a text message to 9-1-1. The caseworker shall certify to the commissioner on a form prescribed by the commissioner that such caseworker has complied with the provisions of this subsection. Such form shall include (A) an acknowledgment, for signature by the child, if appropriate, that such caseworker provided a copy of the Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations to the child and reviewed the Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations with the child, and (B) notice that, if the child refuses to sign such acknowledgment, such caseworker shall indicate on the form that the child refused to sign such acknowledgment.
(P.A. 19-44, S. 1; P.A. 21-145, S. 17.)
History: P.A. 19-44 effective July 1, 2019; P.A. 21-145 amended Subsec. (d) to change “Department of Children and Families Office of the Ombudsman” to “Office of Community Relations within the Department of Children and Families”.