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DCF Presents Budget Adjustments for Shelters, Transportation and Child-Services Contracts
Summary
Interim DCF Commissioner Sandy Hoef and DCF staff told the Senate Appropriations Committee their proposed PAA represents a 0.8% increase over FY26 and includes $2 million to stabilize newly created shelters, positions moved off ARPA, $1 million in transportation pressure, and about $1.9 million needed to fully operate two SRTF-style stabilization contracts.
Sandy Hoef, interim commissioner at the Department for Children and Families, told the Senate Appropriations Committee on Jan. 13 that the department's proposed PAA represents a 0.8% increase over the state fiscal 2026 budget and included changes to maximize federal funding and address caseload trends.
"The proposed PAA represents a point 8% increase over the state fiscal '26 budget," Hoef said. DCF staff described several notable adjustments: a net-neutral transfer funding two limited-service OEO positions previously supported by ARPA, a $2,000,000 baseline addition to sustain newly stood-up shelters, and an estimated $50,000 annual cost for a new income-verification system vendor the department must license.
DCF officials also highlighted transportation-cost pressures in the Family Services Division (FSD). Erica Radke, deputy commissioner of the family services division, said rising vendor costs had pushed transportation contract pressures to about $1,000,000; the requests are meant to align contract budgets with actual expense for transporting youth to school, medical appointments, counseling and secure transports when required.
On behavioral-health placements, DCF said two crisis-stabilization programs and existing treatment contracts combined require operating funds the agency does not fully have in its base: officials described roughly $8 million in annual operating need for those facilities while the agency estimates a $1.9 million shortfall for the coming year.
DCF also told senators about one-time IT work to make the child-abuse hotline compatible with ADS server requirements, describing necessary upgrades to ensure call routing, queue handling and headset functionality.
Department staff answered committee questions and offered to provide procurement and contract details as they finalize vendor selections. No formal committee votes occurred during the session.
