When application has been made for the removal of one or both parents as guardians or of any other guardian of the person of such child, or when an application has been made for the termination of the parental rights of any parties who may have parental rights with regard to any minor child, the superior court in which such proceeding is pending may, if it deems it necessary based on the best interests of the child, order the custody of such child to be given to the Commissioner of Children and Families or some proper person or to the board of managers of any child-caring institution or organization, or any children's home or similar institution licensed or approved by the Commissioner of Children and Families, pending the determination of the matter, and may enforce such order by a warrant directed to a proper officer commanding the officer to take possession of the child and to deliver such child into the custody of the person, board, home or institution designated by such order; and said court may, if either or both parents are removed as guardians or if any other guardian of the person is removed, or if said parental rights are terminated, enforce its decree, awarding the custody of the child to the person or persons entitled thereto, by a warrant directed to the proper officer commanding the officer to take possession of the child and to deliver such child into the care and custody of the person entitled thereto. Such officer shall make returns to such court of such officer's doings under either warrant. Upon the issuance of such order giving custody of the child to the Commissioner of Children and Families, or not later than sixty days after the issuance of such order, the court shall make a determination whether the Department of Children and Families made reasonable efforts to keep the child with his or her parents or guardian prior to the issuance of such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether such reasonable efforts were not possible, taking into consideration the child's best interests, including the child's health and safety.
(P.A. 74-164, S. 17, 20; P.A. 75-420, S. 4, 6; P.A. 76-436, S. 590, 681; P.A. 77-614, S. 521, 610; P.A. 82-43, S. 1; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 34.)
History: P.A. 75-420 replaced welfare commissioner with commissioner of social services; P.A. 76-436 replaced juvenile court with superior court and gave custody of children to commissioner of children and youth services rather than commissioner of social services, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-614 replaced social services commissioner with commissioner of human resources as licensing authority of institutions, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 82-43 replaced human resources commissioner with children and youth services commissioner as licensing or approving agency for children's homes and institutions; Sec. 17-43b transferred to Sec. 17a-113 in 1991; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7 authorized the court to issue the custody order “if it deems it necessary based on the best interests of the child” rather than “if it deems it necessary”, added provision requiring the court upon the issuance of order giving custody of the child to Commissioner of Children and Families, or not later than 60 days thereafter, to make a determination whether the Department of Children and Families made reasonable efforts to keep the child with his or her parents or guardian prior to the issuance of such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether such reasonable efforts were not possible considering the best interests of the child and made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality, effective August 15, 2002.
Cited. 46 CA 69.
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.