Policy It is recognized that some children and youth who are receiving DCF services may be arrested and incarcerated while awaiting trial and subsequently sentenced to serve a period of time in a Department of Corrections (DOC) correctional facility. This policy is intended to guide DCF staff in their continued efforts to support and plan for these children and youth and their families.

 

 

Children and youth may lack appropriate family support and have no outside contact. The DCF Area Office social worker or parole staff may be the child/youth’s only source of support and information. Therefore, it is important that the DCF social worker or parole staff fully understand the circumstances leading to the child/youth’s arrest, their legal status, and the importance of maintaining regular contact with the child/youth.

 

 

To assist in the special planning, services, and monitoring of children and youth involved with, or under the custody and/or guardianship, of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, (DCF) and incarcerated within a Connecticut Department of Correction, (DOC) facility.

 

Social Worker - Any DCF social worker (Area Office or Parole Services) assigned to an open family or individual case

 

DCF Ombudsman - A DCF employee assigned to and working within a DOC facility designated as the point person between DOC and DCF

 

Area Office/ Parole DOC Liaison - A DCF employee working in each Area Office or within Parole Services designated as the point person to the DCF Ombudsman to DOC.

 

Facility Representative - A DCF employee designated in every facility, (i.e., CJTS, Riverview, Connecticut Children’s Place, High Meadows), as the contact and point person for quick access to information needed by both agencies

 

DCF Affected Population Youth/Children who:

 

• are involved with DCF (any child/youth who is a member of any Open Case including Voluntary Services)
• are committed to DCF by the Superior Court for Juvenile Matters or for whom DCF has custody and/or guardianship
• have DCF as their Statutory Parent

 

and

 

are incarcerated in a Connecticut DOC facility.

 

 

In cases in which a committed child/youth is arrested and bail is set, DCF will not post the bond. 

 

 

 

 When DCF is notified that a child/youth is in DOC custody, DCF will inform DOC of the child/youth’s legal status. For those children who are under the commitment, custody and/or guardianship of DCF or for whom DCF is the statutory parent, DCF will request to be notified by DOC if any other party seeks to post bond for the child/youth.
The Department will complete an assessment of any child/youth for whom DCF has custody or guardianship upon his/her incarceration to determine if it is appropriate to seek his/her release. This assessment will include the child/youth and family history, the current situation and the offense for which he/she are incarcerated. This information will be used to determine that:
• release appears to be in the child/youth’s best interest
• release will not pose a threat to others
• release will not be a threat to the community.

If it is determined that the child/youth can be safely released, the Department will focus on the development of an appropriate discharge plan, including an alternative placement. This plan will be presented to the criminal court and the assigned DCF staff will advocate that it be accepted and agreed to as an alternative to incarceration and in lieu of bail.

If the child/youth is assessed as ready for release but does not have a court date within a reasonable period of time, the DCF Area Office social worker or parole staff will consult with DCF legal staff and/or the child/youth’s criminal attorney to determine how to bring the discharge plan to the attention of the court.

For those children/youth whom DCF does not assess as ready for release, continued efforts will be made to provide them with services during their period of incarceration.  Services will include arranging for family members to visit the child/youth, commissary payment, regular visits and contact with the assigned DCF Area Office social worker or parole staff.

 

Assigned Staff and Designated Duties for Follow Up and Discharge:

 

 Duty Assigned DCF Staff
Facilitate, invite, and attend the Initial Planning Conference for youth within 45 days.

• Invitees shall be all appropriate DCF Staff, service providers, family members and the youth’s assigned attorney.

 

• For those youth having significant mental health, addiction, or cognitive limitations invitees may also include DCF Central Office staff, as well as staff from the Department of  Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Department of Mental Retardation liaison.  

 

Ombudsman

 

Documentation of conference results and recommendations. 

 

Minutes shall be forwarded to DCF social worker and other attendees. 

 

Prior to any court hearing, make reasonable efforts to develop an appropriate discharge plan for the youth and be prepared to report reasonable efforts made to the court.

 

 Social Worker

Attend all court hearings for youth who is under the custody or guardianship of DCF. 

 

Appropriately advocate for the youth without jeopardizing the youth’s legal status and/or safety of the community. 

 

In collaboration with the youth’s primary DOC clinician, make timely referrals to the appropriate community resources.  Social Worker
Develop a plan to fill youth’s medication prescriptions at time of discharge. 

 

In collaboration with the Ombudsman and the youth’s primary DOC clinician, make all referrals to the appropriate community resources to promote a successful transition and continuity of care. 

 

Social Worker

 

Assigned Staff and Designated Duties for Sharing Information :           

Identify and immediately share information regarding any discrepancies in the DOC and DCF electronic files. 

 

By the next business day notify assigned Social Worker of any change to youth’s status  relating to mental health and non- life-threatening condition.  

 

Contact DOC designee to provide current and historical information on youth as soon as possible.

 

 Social Worker

Inform the youth’s legal guardian of who to contact at DOC for information. 

 

Attend weekly DOC Health Services/Custody review meeting to obtain information on youth. 

 

Share the information obtained from weekly DOC Health Service/Custody meetings with Social Work staff. 

 

 

Visitation For Affected Incarcerated Youth:

 

Social Worker Visitation and Contact 0 - 30 days

 

 

DCF will remain involved and keep the case open under the following criteria:

 

DCF Voluntary Services Program
• child/youth has significant mental health issues, and 
• until sentencing

 

DCF is the custodian/guardian and/or statutory parent
• child/youth has been sentenced to serve 3 years or less, and
• the child/youth will likely require DCF services upon discharge.

 

Note: Most children/youth have jail credit and only complete a percentage of their sentence. They then become eligible for Transitional Supervision.

 

For DCF involved children who do not meet the criteria above, DCF may consider closing the case after ensuring that DOC is aware of and addressing any treatment needs of the child. Prior to closing DCF should notify the child, the assigned attorney and the child’s guardian of the case closing.

 

When DCF has commitment and or guardianship of the child, the case will remain open until such time that the commitment and/or guardianship has been revoked by the Court. In cases where DCF has no such legal status, the case will remain open until the reasons for opening the case no longer exist, or the child becomes otherwise ineligible for services. 
 
When the DCF Ombudsman identifies a need for re-entry services and/or voluntary services they will initiate a referral based on various identified concerns, (e.g., homelessness, lack of a guardian, ongoing services have been identified as necessary). As with all referrals, the DCF Hotline will assess whether the case shall be accepted and advanced through the intake process.

 

Cross Reference: Re-entry 42-20-50 and Voluntary Services Policy 30-6, 37-1 through 37-9, 46-4-8 and Referral to Hotline.