Placement of Children With Relatives - Connecticut

Relative Placement for Foster Care and Guardianship

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 17a-101m

Immediately upon the removal of a child from the custody of the child's parent or guardian pursuant to § 17a-101g(e) or § 46b-129, the Department of Children and Families shall exercise due diligence to identify all grandparents and other adult relatives of the child, including any adult relatives suggested by the parents, subject to exceptions due to family or domestic violence. No later than 30 days after the removal, the department shall provide such grandparents and other relatives with notice that does the following:

• Informs them that the child has been or is being removed from the custody of the child's parent or guardian
• Explains the options that the relative has under Federal, State, and local law to participate in the care and placement of the child, including any options that may be lost by failing to respond to the notice
• Describes the requirements for the following:
  • To obtain a foster care license pursuant to § 17a-114
  • To access additional services and supports that are available for children placed in such a home
• Describes the subsidized guardianship program under § 17a-126, including the following:
  • Eligibility requirements
  • The process for applying to the program
  • Financial assistance available under the program

Requirements for Placement with Relatives

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 17a-114

The term 'fictive kin caregiver' means a person who is age 21 or older and who is unrelated to a child by birth, adoption, or marriage but who has an emotionally significant relationship with the child or the child's family amounting to a familial relationship.

The commissioner may place a child with a relative or fictive kin caregiver who has not been issued a license or approval, when such placement is in the best interests of the child, provided that the following is done:

• A satisfactory home visit is conducted.
• A basic assessment of the family is completed.
• The relative or fictive kin caregiver attests that they and any adult living within the household have not been convicted of a crime or arrested for a felony against a person; for injury or risk of injury to or impairing the morals of a child; or for the possession, use, or sale of a controlled substance.

Any such relative or fictive kin caregiver who accepts placement of a child shall be subject to licensure by the commissioner, pursuant to regulations adopted by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to implement the provisions of this section or approval by a licensed child-placing agency. The commissioner may grant a waiver from the regulations, including any standard regarding separate bedrooms or room-sharing arrangements, for a child placed with a relative or fictive kin caregiver, on a case-by-case basis, if the placement is otherwise in the best interests of the child, provided no procedure or standard that is safety-related may be waived. The commissioner shall document, in writing, the reason for granting any waiver from the regulations.

Requirements for Placement of Siblings

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 46b-129(j)(4), (q)

When placing siblings, the department shall, if possible, place such children together.

Upon motion of any sibling of any child committed to the department pursuant to this section, such sibling shall have the right to be heard concerning visits with, and placement of, any such child. In approving any plan for visiting or modifying any placement, the court shall be guided by the best interests of all siblings affected by such determination.

Relatives Who May Adopt

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 17a-114

Any person licensed by the department may be a prospective adoptive parent.

Requirements for Adoption by Relatives

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.