Transition age youth (aged 14-22)

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support neglect and sexual abuse where 1) DCF relied on inconsistent statements by a child who was angry with Appellant, who was a staff member at a program the child attended, and 2) the entire record was not considered during the investigation. In…

Reversed - DCF did not have a reasonable cause to support a finding of physical abuse because there was insufficient evidence that Appellant mother pushing her child into a room caused her child to sustain physical injury. Appellant pushed the child after a struggle over the child's backpack…

Affirmed - DCF had a reasonable basis for closing a young adult’s case when that young adult was unemployed for long periods of time, not actively seeking employment, and not enrolled full-time in classes. The case could only be closed after a 90-day transitional planning period which allowed the…

Affirmed - DCF has reasonable basis to close young adult Appellant's case and terminate services where the Appellant declined the Department's proposed living placements and did not fully utilized the programs previously in place for her. At 22 years old, soon to be 23, the Appellant has been…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to deny the Appellant's child-specific foster parent license application where 1) the references provided by the Appellant on her application expressed concerns regarding the Appellant's ability to meet the emotional and behavioral needs of the child in her care;…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to believe that the child had been neglected where a staff member at a DCF Care and Protection program failed to properly supervise a 17-year old resident and he sexually abused his roommate. The appellant failed to properly monitor the residents and perform room…

Reversed - DCF did not have sufficient evidence to support allegations of sexual abuse by Appellant where testimony from the child/alleged victim was determined to be unreliable. The child only disclosed sexual abuse in an argument with her mother regarding sexual activity, and later struggled with…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support a finding of neglect. The Appellant was a staff member in a special needs classroom with four students. On the day in question, the classroom was short staffed, so procedures were altered to ensure safety. All allegations of neglect were the…

Affirmed - DCF had a reasonable basis for closing Appellant’s case and terminating Appellant’s ex-wife’s services when (1) Appellant expressed concerns about his ex-wife’s mental health; (2) Appellant’s ex-wife was stable at the time of the decision; (3) Appellant’s ex-wife engaged in treatment; and…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support the 51A reports of neglect by the Appellant where there was no reasonable evidence that the Appellant failed to provide essential care for her son or that the Appellant's actions or inactions placed the child in any danger. The child had a…

Reversed - The Hearing Officer reversed a supported 51B decision of abuse where there were two conflicting reports about the altercation, one from the appellant mother and one from the 16-year-old child. The mother’s statements were deemed more credible because they were supported by facts while the…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support a 51B decision of abuse where there were two conflicting reports about the altercation, one from the Appellant Mother and one from the 16-year-old child. The Appellant’s statements were deemed more credible because they were supported by facts…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support a 51A report of neglect where Appellant used physical discipline on her teenage daughter on one occasion by reactively slapping her across the face for sneaking out of the house to be with an older boy.

Affirmed - DFC had reasonable cause to support the 51A decision for physical abuse against the Appellant (biological father). The Appellant had an extensive history of violence in the home which led to his eventual removal and incarceration. The disclosure of the abuse and filing of the 51A reports…

Affirmed - DCF had a reasonable cause to support a finding of neglect because Appellant mother made excessive and inappropriate contact with her child's peers in an effort to control her child's relationships. Appellant also encouraged an inappropriate sexual relationship with her child and an…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to close a young adult’s case who was not in compliance with the Voluntary Placement Agreement that kept his case open. He did not meet academic performance requirements, did not participate in treatment meetings, and was on probation for a crime stemming from a…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support the 51A report for neglect against the Appellant (direct care staff member at the IFC home where the child was previously temporarily placed). The Appellant did not fail to provide the child ("A") with minimally adequate supervision or care by…

Remanded - While DCF had reasonable basis for closing Appellant's case and terminating services where Appellant failed to comply with the terms of his placement agreement/service plan by acting aggressive to peers and staff, regularly leaving the program without permission, abusing alcohol and…

DCF did not have reasonable cause to close the Appellant's case and deny her services through a Voluntary Placement Agreement after her 18th birthday where 1) the Department failed to follow its policies by not engaging in comprehensive transition planning with the Appellant and 2) the Appellant had…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support the allegation of neglect against the Appellant where the subject child (the Appellant's son) witnessed the argument between the Appellant and the Appellant's wife where the Appellant broke his wife's phone and struck her, leading to his arrest for…

Affirmed - DCF had a reasonable cause to support a finding of neglect because Appellant resident counselor had failed, multiple times, to check on the whereabouts of the child under DCF custody. The child was able to travel over two hours away. Appellant also saw the child in the community late that…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support the 51A decision for sexual abuse against the Appellant (the boyfriend of the biological mother of children F, S, and T). There was insufficient evidence to support allegations that the Appellant had taken his clothes off in front of the three…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support the 51A report report for physical abuse against the Appellant (mother's live-in boyfriend) where, while intoxicated, the Appellant pushed the child and put his hands around the child's neck during an argument. The Appellant's actions resulted in a…

Reversed - DCF did not have a reasonable basis for closing the case and terminating services of the Young Adult Appellant when (1) the Appellant had been compliant with the service plan with the exception of one incident, (2) the Appellant was arrested for assaulting the foster father and did not…

Affirmed - DCF had sufficient evidence to support a 51B report of neglect when the Appellant locked his teenage son out of the home after visiting his sister without the Appellant’s permission. The Appellant made it clear that his son was not allowed to return home, deliberately failed to ensure his…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support allegations of physical abuse and neglect when Appellant Caregiver, working in a professional capacity, took improper steps to diffuse a situation. Appellant violated a child’s disciplinary plan, failed to take the child’s well-being and safety into…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable basis for closing Appellant's case and terminating services where the Young Adult Appellant had been in compliance with his service plan by enrolling in two summer community college courses to get off of academic probation and applying for employment. Through…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause for neglect where an Appellant Professional did not use their training procedures to follow protocol and escalated the situation with a child by: (1) calling the child a “tough guy;” and (2) offering the child a pen and paper for them to write down a place to…

Affirmed - DCF had a reasonable basis for closing the case and terminating the services of the young adult Appellant where Appellant was (1) unable to sustain the minimal expectations of either being employed or actively working toward earning his GED and (2) failed to follow the rules of his…

Affirmed - DCF had a reasonable basis for closing the case and terminating services of the Young Adult Appellant when, after entering into a Voluntary Placement Agreement, the Appellant failed to meet the expectations of her placement by routinely missing the curfew at her foster home, failing to…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support allegations of neglect where Appellant Mother refused to allow her daughter to stay in the home for fear that the child was dangerous. Appellant failed to meet burden of proof for this belief, and did not seek to find alternative accommodations for the…

Remanded - DCF did not comply with its policies and procedures where Appellant did not have an appropriate and stable housing arrangement before DCF closed the case. Appellant must have a 90 day transitional period before DCF may close the case.

Affirmed - DCF had a reasonable basis for closing the case and terminating services provided under Appellant's Voluntary Placement Agreement when Appellant did not attend classes and failed to withdraw in time, provided no proof of employment, misused EVT funds, acquired criminal charges (disorderly…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support the 51A decision for neglect against the Appellant (staff member at a short-term placement facility for adolescent boys). Though the Appellant ("SM") had left the boy ("A") unattended with bathroom cleaning supplies, which is a violation of the…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable basis for terminating Appellant's services and closing Appellant's case when Appellant failed to comply with the terms of his voluntary placement agreement by continuing to engage in violent and disruptive behavior (which has resulted in both multiple juvenile and adult…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support allegations of physical abuse where the child alleging abuse exhibited behavioral and mental health issues, and had previously made unreliable reports. The Hearing Officer determined that the child likely sustained injuries accidentally, and…