Religious Rights of Youth in Out-of-Home Care - Connecticut

Youths' Religious Rights
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 17a-10e

Any child placed in out-of-home care by the Department of Children and Families pursuant to an order of temporary custody or commitment has the right to develop and maintain their own values, hopes, goals, religion, spirituality, and identity.

Agency Responsibilities 
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 17a-10e; State Agency Regs. § 17a-145-151

The caseworker of any child placed in an out-of-home placement by the department 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 a meeting, the caseworker shall do the following:

• Provide the child with a copy of the Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations
• Review the Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations with the child
• Explain to the child that if they are in physical danger or experience a medical emergency, they may dial or send a text message to 911

The caseworker shall certify to the commissioner on a form prescribed by the commissioner that the caseworker has complied with the provisions of this subsection. The form shall include an acknowledgment, for signature by the child, if appropriate, that the caseworker provided a copy of the Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations to the child and reviewed the document with the child.

In regulation: Foster parents shall be capable of providing care, guidance, and supervision of the child, including ensuring an environment of tolerance and sensitivity to a child's religion through providing adequate opportunity for religious training and participation appropriate to the child's religious denomination and not requiring any child to participate in religious practices contrary to the child's beliefs.

Addressing Grievances
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 17a-10e; DCF Pol. Man., Ch. 1-3

When reviewing the Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations with the child, the caseworker shall explain to the child that they may contact the caseworker, their attorney, the department regional office, the Office of Community Relations within the department, or the Office of the Child Advocate if the child feels that their rights have been violated or expectations have not been met under the Children in Care Bill of Rights and Expectations. The caseworker also must provide the child with contact information for such caseworker, regional office, the Office of Community Relations, and the Office of the Child Advocate.

In policy: Any person who believes they have been subjected to discrimination may file a grievance under the procedure adopted by the Department of Children and Families. It is against the law for the department to retaliate against anyone who files a grievance or cooperates in the investigation of a grievance.

The following steps are used in addressing grievances:

• Complaints must be submitted to the grievance coordinator within 90 days of the date the person filing the complaint becomes aware of the alleged discriminatory action. 
• A complaint must be in writing and contain the name and address of the person filing it. The complaint must state the problem or action alleged to be discriminatory and the remedy or relief sought. 
• The coordinator shall investigate the complaint. This investigation may be informal, but it must be thorough, affording all interested people an opportunity to submit evidence relevant to the complaint. 
• The coordinator will issue a written decision on the grievance no later than 30 days after its filing. 
• The person filing the grievance may appeal against the decision of the coordinator by writing to the commissioner within 15 days of receiving the coordinator's decision. The commissioner shall issue a written decision in response to the appeal no later than 30 days after its filing.