D.S. was filed on behalf of a class of foster children and youth with behavioral health and developmental disabilities.
The Settlement Agreement was agreed upon in June 2022 and ordered by the court in September 2022. The purpose of this Agreement and Settlement Order is to set forth a plan and process for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and Ross Hunter, in his official capacity as Secretary of DCYF, to better provide for dependent children with behavioral health and developmental disabilities to be promptly reunified with their families and adequately supported while in out-of-home care.
Eight system improvements are identified in the Settlement Agreement. Implementation of each system improvement is required and will be monitored by the Court Monitor until the exit criteria are met.
Monitoring Progress
DCYF will report to the Court Monitor quarterly starting February 2023. The quarterly reporting will include data requested by the Court Monitor as identified in the Settlement Agreement and measure progress towards each system improvement.
System Improvements
DCYF committed to achieving these eight System Improvements, guided by the goals of the Settlement Agreement:
Emerging Adulthood Housing Program - Develop and implement an array of supported statewide housing for young people ages 16-20 years who prefer to live independently.
Professional Therapeutic Foster Care - Develop and implement a contract and licensing category for therapeutic foster parent professionals to support children with developmental disabilities or behavioral health needs.
Statewide Hub Home Model Program - Develop and implement a statewide Hub Home Model focused on caring for young people with a current or a history of behavioral health needs.
Revising Licensing Standards - Amend contracts and policies and engage in negotiated rule-making to amend requirements for foster care placements to be more developmentally appropriate and flexible to meet individual youth’s needs.
Kinship Engagement Unit - Establish a statewide unit to identify and engage Class Members’ extended family members and friends to support families in safely reunifying or staying together. A contracted stakeholder process will assist with developing, implementing, and evaluating this system improvement.
Family Group Planning - Review Shared Planning Meeting policies and practices for improvements and revise in response to stakeholder input. A contracted stakeholder process will assist with developing, implementing, and evaluating this system improvement.
Referrals and Transitions - Develop referral and transition protocols in response to feedback from lived experience and other stakeholders. A contracted stakeholder process will assist with developing, implementing, and evaluating this system improvement.
Qualified Residential Treatment Programs - Increase the frequency of and improve the process for QRTP assessments.