A national advocacy group notified Connecticut on Monday that it once again is in contempt of federal court orders dictating the state’s treatment of vulnerable children.

Children’s Rights, which represents children in a class-action suit filed against the state in 1989, suggested that the only remedy might be new management at the Department of Children and Families.

“This is now and has been a leadership and management issue,” said Ira Lustbader, associate director of Children’s Rights. “These kids simply cannot wait another eight months for a new administration.”

Gov. M. Jodi Rell leaves office in eight months, giving the next governor the opportunity to name new leadership at an agency that long has been under the supervision of a court monitor as a result of the case known as “Juan F.,” named for a plaintiff representative of a broader class of DCF clients.

The notification that the monitor has found the department deficient is the first step in a court-ordered process that could lead to a negotiated remedy or a contempt finding.

“All options are on the table,” Lustbader said.

Lustbader said the deficiencies are sweeping and systemic, involving what Children’s Rights says are the department’s failure to recruit foster parents and lessen the reliance on institutional care.

There also are longstanding shortages for services involving mental health, substance abuse treatment and dental care, he said.

DCF promised to resolve those issues two years ago, when Children’s Rights previously notified the agency it was in contempt.

No one from DCF would be interviewed, but the agency said in a prepared statement it has made progress.

“There can be no dispute that the Department has made major forward strides in improving services for children and families; more children receive services to help them stay safely at home, fewer children are placed into care, more children achieve timely permanency, and fewer children experience repeat maltreatment,” the statement said.

The department said in the statement that the monitor relied on DCF’s shortcomings in meeting two of about 20 goals or “outcome measures.”

“This single measurement of complex data is misleading because it confines understanding of performance and masks important progress the Department has experienced in meeting the goals and objectives of these two outcome measures.”

But Lustbader said the shortcomings go to the heart of the agency’s mission and raise questions about its management.

“We’re not fiddling at the edges of the department here,” he said. “This is a basic, fundamental function of what the department does for kids and families. This is a pretty major swatch of what that department exists to do with taxpayer money.”

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We all know how the actions of the ct DCF is just disgusting. The way they lie their way into your life, cause your family extreme stress and all over a simple phone call. Let’s face it, no parent is perfect, but we love our children. It pisses me off that they lie so I am going to tell you a true story of  how a careless worker who couldn’t keep her story straight.

A copy of the investigation was requested. Of course you have to write to someone to get it so they can ” edit” the report, and very familiar with this case. I was irate when I read through pages of lies. the fact that a first grader could spell better than her, and the most disturbing part, was the child involved…. she called the child THREE different names throughout the report. The lies, the false statements and the imperative information she left out. But all this time the parent was having contact and home visits insuring the parent that she was on the parents side. That again, The CT DCF, famous words ” we just want to help” they are full of shit. If you are ever under investigation, please read the other information on this site. An anonymous report is b.s. You are able to face your accuser. There is so much information on this site that can educate and save a lot of heartache. If I had a word of advice, I would never answer the door without a warrant. That this department acts on the same as police, they are only as smart as what you tell them. But CT DCF, they twist, turn, lie. They prey on people who don’t know their rights. Even if you have never had a run in, prepare yourself, it’s nothing you want to get involved with without knowing your rights.

Please share your story, we can help point you in the right direction to advocacy groups. The more aware we make this issue, the weaker this agency will become. It simply comes down to dirty, lying, careless state workers, that care about putting in the 20 years. And destroying families. NOT FOR LONG, we are going to build, BUILD, and get stronger. And once all the information, hopefully we can save innocent children in the so called care of DCF

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