Education - school discipline

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support the 51A Report for neglect of the two subject children by the Appellant (their father) where 1) there was only a single isolated incident where the Appellant duck taped his 12-year-old autistic son's mouth for a few seconds after the child said…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support a finding of neglect because Appellants did what they thought was best to address their child's inappropriate behavior and there was no evidence to suggest that their physical discipline adversely impacted their children's emotional stability…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support a finding of educational neglect because 1) Appellant parents insisted that their child could only go to one specific school which led to the child being severely behind academically, failing the first grade 2) child was diagnosed with dyslexia, a…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support the 51A reports of neglect by the Appellant where there was no reasonable evidence that the Appellant failed to provide essential care for her son or that the Appellant's actions or inactions placed the child in any danger. The child had a…

Affirmed in part and reversed in part - DCF had reasonable cause to support the 51A decision for physical abuse against the Appellant (biological father). The Appellant's action of spanking the child across the child's backside was found to be intentional, left marks on the child, and created a…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support a 51A report of neglect when the child made multiple inconsistent allegations, including that the Appellant locked him in his bedroom, and there was no independent evidence or witnesses to corroborate the child’s claims.

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support a finding of neglect because 1) the Appellant, when responding to the child fighting at school, arrived with a pocketknife and threatened other children and ordered the child to beat up the students involved 2) witnessing domestic violence has a…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support allegations of physical abuse where Appellant Professional used excessive force in restraining child when the child used inappropriate language and the child was not physically aggressive. Appellant provoked the child and showed no signs of attempting…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support the 51A decision for sexual abuse against the Appellant (biological father of children D and J). In an initial disclosure to a mandated reporter, D and J stated that they had played a game with the Appellant where all three of them took their…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support a finding of physical abuse where the Appellant intentionally caused physical injury to his son by punching him in the chest and face as well as allegedly choking him, leading to intervention by the police and ambulance services.

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable basis for closing Appellant's case and terminating services where the Young Adult Appellant had been in compliance with his service plan by enrolling in two summer community college courses to get off of academic probation and applying for employment. Through…

Reversed - The Department’s finding of neglect was reversed due to insufficient evidence to support that appellant, the child’s grandmother, was a caretaker of the child at the time in question. The appellant arrived at the child’s school after she had been in a fight, but the child’s mother arrived…

Reversed - DCF had reasonable cause to believe that the child has been neglected where the Appellant had a history of prostitution and substance use, displayed risky and impulsive behaviors, and expressed no desire to care for the children. In addition, Appellant left her children in the care of a…

Affirmed in part and reversed in part - DCF had reasonable cause to support a finding of neglect when the Appellant 1) disciplined his child in a manner and pattern incompatible with the child's fragile mental health condition and 2) showed a lack of regard for his child's significant mental health…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable basis for terminating Appellant's services and closing Appellant's case when Appellant failed to comply with the terms of his voluntary placement agreement by continuing to engage in violent and disruptive behavior (which has resulted in both multiple juvenile and adult…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support allegations of neglect. The Appellant’s regular use of marijuana, the reports of her children occasionally watching the daycare children while the Appellant napped, and the children’s reported struggles were reasonable cause for DCF’s initial…