Connecticut

Through their IDTA project, Connecticut committed to increase the understanding of the extent to which substance involved families in the child welfare system need and receive treatment, and how their treatment outcomes correspond to their child welfare permanency outcomes (i.e. whether parental rights are terminated, whether the child remains in long term foster care, or whether the child is reunified with the birth parent).  In conjunction with improved understanding, Connecticut identified specific targeted actions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their child welfare, substance abuse and court systems.

Connecticut’s primary goals:

• Develop a recovery specialist/coaching model for child welfare families who have lost custody of their children due to child abuse/neglect where substance abuse is a primary issue.
• Develop a comprehensive contracting specifications package to implement a Connecticut pilot version of the Sacramento STARS model and an identified funding mechanism.
• Develop an MOU for information sharing across all 3 systems (DCF, DMHAS and the Judicial Branch) for the Connecticut pilot as well as other standardized tools for information sharing (e.g., release forms).
• Develop a specific cross system training plan and a quarterly training calendar for recovery specialist/coaches and other relevant staff from the three systems who will work with the Connecticut pilot(s).

The major product goals and level of accomplishment include:

• Memorandum of Agreement
• Engagement of the Judicial Branch, Attorney General and Private bar
• Implementing a new service model in 3 sites 
• Team leadership meets monthly and continues
• System cross training
• Joint funding of a Process Evaluation