In the Matter of JS and TW, FH# 2018-0160

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support allegations of physical abuse where the child’s siblings confirmed the abuse, even though they later retracted it due to coaching from parents. Although DCF regulations do not offer guidance on what to do when parents coach their children to deny physical abuse, the Hearing Officer decided this situation was similar enough to a family member denying access to the child to assess the abuse claims.