Big changes may be in store for the Department of Children and Families when the legislature reconvenes in January.
For the past four days, lawmakers have held investigative hearings in Hartford to review DCF practices. Thursday advocates, parents, caregivers and relatives of children in the State's care had an opportunity to speak out.
Theodore Freedman of Middletown is a child advocate who spoke out at the hearing. Freedman said "when they're making decisions on what's best for the family, you've got to have a family present. People making decisions aren't in the condition of people they're making conditions for."
DCF Spokesman Gary Kleebatt said the Department is "willing to listen to families to see how we can do our work and to see how we can improve our services."
Bernetta Henry who is also a child advocate says she hopes any changes made will be beneficial to both the child and the family involved.
"Hopefully there will be something in place so that our families don't have to suffer because of the way the system has been carried out." she said.
Some others came out to the hearing to applaud DCF's efforts. Michelle Scarlett said her adoptive son had gotten a lot of support from his DCF workers.
"He still trusts children more easily than adults but the fact that he's able to trust anyone is an accomplishment," said Scarlett.
Thursday was the fourth and final day of hearings. Earlier in the week the hearings, conducted jointly by the Select Committee on Children and the Human Services Committee, heard testimony from lawmakers, legal experts and DCF administrators.
