DCF commissioner backs kinship, dashboard in child-welfare bill; lawmakers press school-withdrawal concerns

Susan Hamilton, interim commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, told the Committee on Children that House Bill 5004 would advance kinship placement and public transparency but that parts of the proposal require clarification and funding.

"Our care line receives nearly 84,000 calls annually, including 64,000 last year neglect and abuse reports," Hamilton said, citing DCF caseload figures and urging a focus on diversion, reunification and permanency. She told lawmakers the department has about 12,000 open cases at any given time, roughly 8,000 families served with in-home supports, and just under 3,000 children in foster care, with more than half placed with relatives or fictive kin.

Hamilton said sections 1, 2 and 21 of the bill align with department priorities by expanding placement with relatives and fictive kin and moving licensing and practice toward national standards. She described sections 10 and 11 as an expansion of post-majority services — the bill would mandate supports to age 23 — but cautioned that the expansion is not included in the governor's current budget.

On transparency, Hamilton said sections 12 and 13 would…