Mental health issues - child/young adult

DCF did not have reasonable cause to close the Appellant's case and deny her services through a Voluntary Placement Agreement after her 18th birthday where 1) the Department failed to follow its policies by not engaging in comprehensive transition planning with the Appellant and 2) the Appellant had…

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 a reasonable cause to support a finding of neglect because Appellant resident counselor had failed, multiple times, to check on the whereabouts of the child under DCF custody. The child was able to travel over two hours away. Appellant also saw the child in the community late that…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to revoke Appellant Foster Parents’ license and remove children from their pre-adoptive kinship home where: (1) Appellant Foster Parents appear to be sabotaging relationship between children and birth parents by having children call them “mommy and daddy” against…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support a finding of educational neglect because 1) the Appellant grandmother and legal guardian failed to make any reasonable attempts to seek out the appropriate services to help the child and failed to make use of services when they were offered to her 2)…

Affirmed - Hearing Officer supported the Department’s decision to terminate services where appellant’s evidence for service continuation was based in 51A reports that the Department had not received. Appellant claimed to have filed the reports in response to neglect of his daughter by the child’s…

Affirmed - Department’s decision to support allegations of neglect was reasonable where actions/inaction of appellant failed to provide for son’s minimally adequate care. Mother did not address (1) son’s medical needs as recommended and necessary, including presentation of depressive/anxious…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support a finding of physical abuse because 1) it was determined that the child was not a reliable reporter given a history of lying about circumstances involving the Appellant 2) when examined by the school nurse, no injuries were found on the child…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable basis for finding neglect where actions/inaction of Appellant Mother failed to provide for son’s minimally adequate care. Appellant Mother did not address (1) her child’s medical needs as recommended and necessary, including presentation of depressive/anxious symptoms…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to support the 51A reports alleging neglect by the Appellant. While it was determined that the Appellant's words and actions towards the child (her son) were excessive and manipulative as the Appellant fought for custody with the child's biological…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to remove a Department foster child from the home of the Appellant (an approved pre-adoptive parent). The Department removed the child from the Appellant's pre-adoptive home to place him in a foster home with his sister, determining that this was the best…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support allegations of physical abuse and neglect when Appellant Caregiver, working in a professional capacity, took improper steps to diffuse a situation. Appellant violated a child’s disciplinary plan, failed to take the child’s well-being and safety into…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to find neglect, terminate foster care placement for two children, and revoke Appellant’s foster care license where: (1) Appellant left children in care of her son and did not disclose his history of substance use, sexualized behavior, and sexual assault; (2)…

Remanded - DCF acted reasonably in making its decision to close Appellant's case and terminate services when Appellant would leave his program without permission, physically fight with other residents, engage in sexually inappropriate behavior, not attend high school consistently, not work on…

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…

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 cause to support allegations of physical abuse against a youth facility employee where the employee engaged in a restraint/take-down that was against program policies, and the take-down resulted in injuries to a child. Accounts of the incident were corroborated by…

Reversed - DCF did not have reasonable cause to find neglect and sexual abuse when (1) the department failed to verify the information given and relied solely on the statements of the young adult alleged victim; (2)the young adult’s statements were not corroborated by anyone; (3) the Appellant…

Affirmed - DCF had a reasonable basis for closing the case and terminating the services of the young adult Appellant where Appellant was (1) unable to sustain the minimal expectations of either being employed or actively working toward earning his GED and (2) failed to follow the rules of his…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support allegations of neglect where Appellant Mother refused to allow her daughter to stay in the home for fear that the child was dangerous. Appellant failed to meet burden of proof for this belief, and did not seek to find alternative accommodations for the…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support a finding of neglect where the Appellant was in continual conflict with the child, spoke negatively about the other parent, and took a harsh punitive approach toward disciplining the child. The Appellant got into a verbal argument with his child which…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support a neglect finding where the Appellant Mother was drinking to the point of intoxication over a three-week period while her child was asleep. The Hearing Officer also considered the child’s mental health issues and the child’s statement that she felt…

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 physical abuse where the child alleging abuse exhibited behavioral and mental health issues, and had previously made unreliable reports. The Hearing Officer determined that the child likely sustained injuries accidentally, and…

Affirmed - DCF had reasonable cause to support a finding of neglect because 1) the children were exposed to discord in the chaotic home which led to them having behavioral and demeanor changes 2) the children were not up to date medically 3) their attendance in school was historically poor and…