§ 17a-10c — Youth Advisory Board. Sibling Bill of Rights. Meeting between caseworker and child.

(a) For purposes of this section, “Youth Advisory Board” means a board established by each Department of Children and Families regional office that is comprised of youth in out-of-home care. (b) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall meet with the members of each Youth Advisory Board to gather recommendations for and to draft a “Sibling Bill of Rights”, which may include, but not be limited to, ways to protect the relationships of siblings separated as a result of said commissioner's intervention and an affirmation by the department of its commitment to preserve the relationships between siblings who have been separated from each other while under department care. On or before October 1, 2013, the commissioner and members of the Youth Advisory Boards shall submit the Sibling Bill of Rights to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children for consideration of possible legislative action. (c) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall incorporate the final version of the Sibling Bill of Rights into department policy. (d) On and after January 1, 2020, 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, if applicable and appropriate: (1) Provide the child with a copy of the Sibling Bill of Rights, (2) review the Sibling Bill of Rights with the child, and (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 under the Sibling Bill of Rights have been violated, 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. 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 Sibling Bill of Rights to the child and reviewed the Sibling Bill of Rights 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.

Legislative History

(P.A. 12-71, S. 2; P.A. 16-28, S. 4; P.A. 19-44, S. 2; P.A. 21-145, S. 16.) History: P.A. 12-71 effective June 6, 2012; P.A. 16-28 amended Subsec. (b) by making a technical change, effective May 17, 2016; P.A. 19-44 amended Subsec. (c) by deleting provision re commissioner to share policy with each child placed in care and custody of commissioner and added Subsec. (d) re private meeting between caseworker and child, providing child with Sibling Bill of Rights and certification of compliance, 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”.