FAVOR Policy Network
Where Your Voice Counts

Because you have in depth knowledge, we need your voice to educate legislators and state agencies on the children’s mental health system.  FAVOR is continually asked to represent the family voice on legislative policy matters.  Prior to the session, we develop the FAVOR Legislative Priorities.  During each legislative session, we ask your help in testifying at public hearings or making phone calls to support the FAVOR Legislative Priorities.  To keep you informed about legislative policy, we send to the FAVOR Network  a legislative update during the session.

2007 FAVOR Legislative Priorities

Raise the Age: Beginning January 1, 2010, most offenses involving 16- and 17-year olds will be adjudicated in juvenile court (Section 73-78, 81-82, 84, 87-88, 123 of the Public Act 07-4). The bill eliminates the Youth in Crisis program and makes 16- and 17-year olds eligible for Families With Service Needs (FWSN) programs. The law requires the Judicial Department’s Court Support Services Division (CSSD) to provide a continuum of services for 16- and 17-year old juvenile offenders living in the community including appropriate job training and employment opportunities, counseling sessions in anger management and conflict resolution, substance abuse prevention programs and services for the juvenile’s family. Finally, the bill creates the Juvenile Jurisdiction Policy and Operations Coordinating Council to monitor the implementation of the new and modified programs, procedures, and court operations associated with raising the delinquency age.

Young Adult Services: The number of cities with Young Adult Services Programs is increased by four (two per year of the biennium budget) for a total of 14 Local Mental Health Facilities able "to more appropriately serve the most high risk and difficult referrals." Five million dollars is appropriated in fiscal year 08 and ten million dollars in fiscal year 09. Legislation that would have codified DCF and DMHAS transition planning of young adults did not pass this legislative session.

Family Driven Services: FAVOR was instrumental in planning the implementation of a Differential Response System at DCF.  The system will allow for an assessment track and greater involvement of families in child protective services cases.

FAVOR Bill List

Families with Service Needs: Expands diversion services and court options for families when they are referred to juvenile court (Section 30-32, 37 of Public Act 07-4). Generally families are referred when a child is engaging in behavior such as running away or truancy. The bill creates family support centers defined as a community-based. Each center must provide:

1. screening and assessment
2. crisis intervention
3. family mediation
4. educational evaluations and advocacy
5. mental health treatment and services including gender-specific trauma treatment
6. resiliency skill building
7. short-term respite care

Restraints and Seclusions in Public Schools: Use of physical restraints and seclusion in public schools is now regulated by the State Board of Education (SBE) for students receiving special education or for whom eligibility is pending (PA 07-147). SBE is required to develop governing regulations and local and regional board of educations must inform parents at the initial Planning and Placement Team of these regulations. The local and regional school boards are further required to inform parents each time a child is placed in physical restraint or seclusion. The bill also defines physical restraint and seclusion.

In-School Suspensions: Maximum length of in-school suspensions is extended from five to ten days and out-of-school suspensions are generally prohibited. A student may be suspended for conduct that (1) violates a publicized board policy or seriously disrupts the educational process or (2) endangers persons or property on school grounds or at a school-sponsored event. Suspensions must be in-school suspensions unless the school administration determines at the required informal suspension hearing that the student (1) poses such a danger to persons or property or (2) is so disruptive of the education process the suspension must be served outside the school.

Division of Autism Spectrum Services: Creates the division of Autism Spectrum Services within DMR and requires DMR to adopt regulations defining autism and establishing eligibility standards (Section 109-114 PA 07-4).

Legislative Action

The Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee is currently conducting a comprehensive assessment of efforts, both internal and external, to monitor and evaluate the Department of Children and Families. The study includes all four statutory mandate areas: child protective services; children and youth behavioral health services; juvenile justice services for adjudicated delinquents; and prevention. More specifically, the study will: 1) describe how goals set by and for the agency are measured and tracked; 2) evaluate the department’s progress in attaining these goals; and 3) describe the extent to which the monitoring and evaluation results are used by DCF to improve the services it provides to children and families.

If you have any questions about the study, please call Jill Jensen, Miriam Kluger, or Michelle Riordan of the committee staff at (860) 240-0300.

Other Policy

In addition to legislative policy, our member agencies and our staff participate on the State Advisory Council, the Children’s Behavioral Health Advisory Council, the Family Support Council, Behavioral Health Oversight Council, CT Juvenile Justice Alliance, MIG School to Work Transition Workgroup, Differential Response System Workgroup, Citizen Review Panels, and Transformation Grant Steering Committee, as well as many other groups, councils and committees concerned with children’s mental health.  We continuously strive to improve our state-wide system of communication with any and all family organizations so as to best represent them in sharing their viewpoints with policy makers.

For questions on the FAVOR legislative priorities or other policy, contact: