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DCF and providers warn April Raise‑the‑Age deadline risks without more beds and staff
Summary
Department for Children and Families officials and adolescent services staff said workforce shortages, limited secure beds and pending facility design/permits make full April implementation of Raise the Age for 19‑year‑olds challenging; agencies described temporary and planned capacity increases.
Commissioner Chris Winters of the Department for Children and Families told the joint committee that the next Raise the Age progress report is due at the end of the month and that the agency remains concerned about readiness for the April 1 presumptive date. Winters cited workforce shortages, facility constraints and IT issues as the primary barriers to a full implementation on that timeline.
"We are still in a position where we have a lot of concerns about implementation on April 1," Winters said, noting staff capacity and the need to avoid harming care for youth already in custody.
Winters and Tyler Allen, adolescent services director, reported that the Red Clover temporary secure stabilization facility in Middlesex is open and currently housing two youths; the site has four beds and the agency expects to reach full four‑bed capacity after background checks are completed for staff. Allen added that Windham County is renovating a space in the lower level of the sheriff's department into a two‑bed, nonsecure crisis stabilization program and that construction is underway with a goal of early spring 2025 operation pending an RFP to identify a provider.
On longer‑term options, DCF said it is in design discussions for a multi‑house secure campus in "Virgins" that would include divisible residences to serve older youth separately from younger adolescents. Officials said the project remains in the design and permitting phase and that negotiations with the host community over terms — including potential state land for housing or local support — are ongoing.
Committee members asked whether legislative changes were planned; Winters said the agency is having early conversations with legislators about potential adjustments to Raise the Age and youthful‑offender statutes but that no legislative package had been finalized. DCF said substantive proposals would be discussed with the legislature in January.
The committee scheduled further oversight: DCF will provide the monthly Raise the Age report at the next meeting and the committee asked to hear from other stakeholders (Justice Reform Advisory Council, investments/trends report) to inform any policy options.
