State: Connecticut
Contact Person: Kimberly Nilson
Contact Address: 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06106
Contact Phone: 860-550-6463
Email: Kimberly.nilson@ct.gov
URL:
Founded In:
Funding:
Several years ago as a result of agency reorganization, the department established two groups to function as CT's Citizen Review Panels. The State Advisory Council on Children and Families (SACS) is legislatively mandated to meet on a quarterly basis. Council members are appointed by the Governor and have a variety of experiences/backgrounds. Many of these members are previous consumers of the agency and can provide feedback to the department regarding their experiences. In addition to conducting CRP activities, the Council is responsible to review policies, the annual budget, evaluate DCF practices and make legislative changes to the Commissioner that would improve services for children and youth.
There are a number of parent advocacy groups in the state that are designed to review our practices specifically in the areas of behavioral health. FAVOR is a statewide Family Advocacy Organization for Children’s Mental Health. Their mission is to enhance mental health services for children with serious emotional disorders by increasing the availability, accessibility, cultural competence and quality of mental health services for children through Family Advocacy. Their organization is willing to coordinate the two panels, collaborate with Area Advisory Councils that have been established statewide, and broaden their focus and responsibilities to fulfill the requirements of Citizen Review Panels. FAVOR receives a stipend through CAPTA to support their CRP work. The majority of members are parents. Given the composition of the panels, their work has predominately focused on family engagement, training and improving the treatment planning process.
Connecticut Citizen Review Panel Annual Report 2010 (pdf)
State Advisory Council Citizen Review Report 2010 (pdf)
2009 final response to CRP recommendations (pdf)
FAVOR CRP 2009 Annual Report (pdf)
SAC CRP 2009 Annual Rreport (pdf)
2008 Response to CRP Recommendations final (pdf)
2008 SAC Citizen Review Panel Report to the Deptartment of Children and Families (pdf)
2007 State Advisory Council CRP Report (pdf)
2007 Response to Summary of CRP Recommendations final (pdf )
