(a) In order to achieve early permanency for children, decrease children's length of stay in foster care, reduce the number of moves children experience in foster care and reduce the amount of time between termination of parental rights and adoption, the Commissioner of Children and Families shall establish a program for concurrent permanency planning.
(b) Concurrent permanency planning involves a planning process to identify permanent placements and prospective adoptive parents so that when termination of parental rights is granted by the court pursuant to section 17a-112, or section 45a-717, permanent placement or adoption proceedings may commence immediately.
(c) The commissioner shall establish guidelines and protocols for child-placing agencies involved in concurrent permanency planning, including criteria for conducting concurrent permanency planning based on relevant factors such as: (1) The age of the child and duration of out-of-home placement; (2) the prognosis for successful reunification with parents; (3) the availability of relatives and other concerned individuals to provide support or a permanent placement for the child; (4) special needs of the child; and (5) other factors affecting the child's best interests, goals of concurrent permanency planning, support services that are available for families, permanency options, and the consequences of not complying with case plans.
(d) Within six months of out-of-home placement, the Department of Children and Families shall complete an assessment of the likelihood of the child's being reunited with either or both birth parents, based on progress made to date. The Department of Children and Families shall develop a concurrent permanency plan for families with poor prognosis for reunification within such time period. Such assessment and concurrent permanency plan shall be filed with the court.
(e) Concurrent permanency planning programs must include involvement of parents and full disclosure of their rights and responsibilities.
(f) The commissioner shall provide ongoing technical assistance, support, and training for local child-placing agencies and other individuals and agencies involved in concurrent permanency planning.
(P.A. 99-166, S. 2; P.A. 00-137, S. 5; P.A. 01-159, S. 2; 01-195, S. 20, 181.)
History: P.A. 00-137 added new Subsecs. (d) and (e) re assessment of likelihood of being reunited, development of concurrent permanency plan, involvement of parents and disclosure of rights and responsibilities, and redesignated former Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (f); P.A. 01-159 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “and reduce the amount of time between termination of parental rights and adoption”; P.A. 01-195 made technical changes in Subsecs. (b) and (c), effective July 11, 2001.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 17a - Social and Human Services and Resources
Section 17a-93. (Formerly Sec. 17-32d). - Definitions.
Section 17a-94. (Formerly Sec. 17-34). - Establishment of receiving homes.
Section 17a-95. (Formerly Sec. 17-35). - Religious and moral instruction.
Section 17a-97. (Formerly Sec. 17-36a). - Foster parent families.
Section 17a-98a. - Kinship navigator program.
Section 17a-98b. - Visit to family home of child with behavioral health needs.
Section 17a-98c. - Written special requests from foster families to the department.
Section 17a-99. (Formerly Sec. 17-37a). - Delegation of guardianship authority.
Section 17a-100. (Formerly Sec. 17-38). - Ill treatment of children.
Section 17a-100a. - Reporting of neglected or cruelly treated animals. Training program.
Section 17a-100c. - Annual report re actual or suspected instances of animal neglect or cruelty.
Section 17a-101c. - Written or electronic report by mandated reporter.
Section 17a-101d. - Contents of reports.
Section 17a-101l. - Visitation centers.
Section 17a-101q. - State-wide sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention program.
Section 17a-102. (Formerly Sec. 17-38b). - Report of danger of abuse.
Section 17a-103a. - Telephone Careline to receive reports of child abuse or neglect.
Section 17a-103c. - Report of abuse or neglect re child committed as delinquent. Notification.
Section 17a-104. (Formerly Sec. 17-38d). - Treatment by Christian Science practitioner.
Section 17a-106b. - Impact of family violence in child abuse cases.
Section 17a-106c. - Family Violence Coordinating Council. Members. Responsibilities.
Section 17a-106i. - Disclosure of personal injury. Provision of notice re victim compensation.
Section 17a-107. (Formerly Sec. 17-38g). - Regulations on reports of child abuse.
Section 17a-109. (Formerly Sec. 17-39). - Commitment of children to child-caring facilities.
Section 17a-110b. - Permanency resource exchange.
Section 17a-114a. - Liability of persons for personal injury to children placed in their care.
Section 17a-114b. - Credit report review for youth placed in foster care.
Section 17a-114c. - Approval of foster or adoptive family application when a child has died.
Section 17a-114d. - Caregiver authority. Reasonable and prudent parent standard. Liability.
Section 17a-114e. - Foster family profiles. Foster family survey.
Section 17a-114f. - Notification of support for foster parents and relative caregivers.
Section 17a-114g. - Annual report re foster care licensing practices.
Section 17a-115. (Formerly Sec. 17-43d). - Arrest records.
Section 17a-115a. - Emergency placement of children. Criminal history records checks.
Section 17a-116. (Formerly Sec. 17-44a). - “Special needs” child defined.
Section 17a-116a. - Information handbook re adoption of children with special needs.
Section 17a-116d. - Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance.
Section 17a-116e. - Compact administrator.
Section 17a-117. (Formerly Sec. 17-44b). - Subsidies for adopting parents.
Section 17a-119. (Formerly Sec. 17-44d). - Moneys for subsidies. Regulations.
Section 17a-121. (Formerly Sec. 17-44f). - Prior subsidies not affected. Increases.
Section 17a-125. - Out-of-Home Placements Advisory Council.
Section 17a-126. - Subsidized guardianship program.
Section 17a-127. - Development and implementation of individual service plan. Child specific team.
Section 17a-128. - Liaison to Department of Social Services.
Section 17a-129. - Department not required to seek custody of certain children and youths.
Section 17a-130. - Application to insurance contracts.
Section 17a-147. - Licensing of extended day treatment programs.
Section 17a-148. (Formerly Sec. 17-49). - When license not required; agreement for adoption.
Section 17a-150. (Formerly Sec. 17-49b). - Regulations.
Section 17a-152. (Formerly Sec. 17-51). - Placement of child from another state.
Section 17a-175. (Formerly Sec. 17-81a). - Compact.
Section 17a-176. (Formerly Sec. 17-81b). - Licensing or bonding not required of sending agency.
Section 17a-177. (Formerly Sec. 17-81c). - Financial responsibility for children. Enforcement.
Section 17a-178. (Formerly Sec. 17-81d). - Duties of Commissioner of Children and Families.
Section 17a-179. (Formerly Sec. 17-81e). - Agreements with other states.
Section 17a-180. (Formerly Sec. 17-81f). - Requirements for visitation, inspection, supervision.
Section 17a-181. (Formerly Sec. 17-81g). - Placement of delinquent children.
Section 17a-182. (Formerly Sec. 17-81h). - Appointment of compact administrator.
Section 17a-195 to 17a-201. - Casey Child Welfare Unit.
Section 17a-201a. (Formerly Sec. 17-408). - Commitment under sixteen restricted.
Section 17a-201b. (Formerly Sec. 17-409). - Religious instruction.