Connecticut Senate Bill SB00479

Connecticut 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/18/23
• Refer: 1/18/23

Caption

An Act Concerning The Reunification Of Children In The Temporary Custody Of The Department Of Children And Families.

Impact

By instituting a clear requirement for reunification based on professional psychological recommendations, SB00479 is intended to strengthen the framework guiding child welfare practices in the state. It reflects an acknowledgement of the need for timely family reunification interventions in cases where parental rights are temporarily displaced due to concerns about a child’s safety or well-being. The bill could potentially reduce the duration of time children spend in state custody, aligning practices with a growing emphasis on family-centered services in child welfare systems.

Summary

SB00479, introduced by Senator Sampson, seeks to amend Title 17a of the general statutes to establish criteria for the reunification of children who are in the temporary custody of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The primary provision of the bill mandates that if a licensed psychologist recommends reunification, DCF must comply with that recommendation. This legislation aims to promote timely reunification of children with their parents, emphasizing the importance of maintaining family bonds whenever it is positively evaluated by a mental health professional.

Contention

The discussion around SB00479 may encompass various points of contention, particularly regarding the definitions of safety and well-being, which could be interpreted differently by various stakeholders. Opponents of the bill might raise concerns about situations where a psychological recommendation for reunification is not aligned with the best interests of the child, possibly invoking questions about parental readiness or the protective measures that need to be in place prior to such reunifications. As such, while the bill aims for a positive outcome by emphasizing psychological evaluations, it may also open debates on the adequacy of mental health assessments in determining family reunification cases.