SENATOR MAHER LEADS FINAL PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION INCREASING OVERSIGHT, PROTECTION OF CHILDREN IN CONNECTICUT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 4, 2026

Today, State Senator Ceci Maher (D-Wilton), Senate Chair of the Committee on Children, led the Senate’s final passage of legislation strengthening protections for children and increasing oversight of the Department of Children and Families, with the collective intent of providing common-sense improvements and protections aiding families.

“Concerning reports about the Department of Children and Families come from around our state, and there is ongoing worry that children are being harmed, despite many efforts to keep them protected,” Sen. Maher said. “I’m encouraged this legislation responds with efforts to preserve families, increase transparency and better support those in need. We can’t protect children without supporting the people who do that work and ensure they’re giving our children the best care possible.”

Senate Bill 5004 seeks to reform standards in Connecticut’s child welfare system, specifically supporting children currently in the Department of Children and Families’ care. Among other advances, it:

• Requires DCF to place children with relatives or close family friends in emergencies and as options in abuse or neglect court proceedings and creates small grants supporting immediate needs for those caregivers like food and clothing.
• Creates an after-school grant program for foster caregivers and creates an appeal process for denials of foster care licenses.
• Requires DCF to build a public online dashboard by January 2027 showing program data; the new Child Welfare Policy and Oversight Committee will evaluate state agency performance.
• Requires DCF to create mentorship programs for new social workers and internship pipelines from colleges.
• DCF staff must receive mandatory training on perinatal mental health, human trafficking, and implicit bias.
• DCF staff will be barred from using a parent’s voluntary mental health treatment as the sole reason to pursue action against them.
• Requires a fresh investigator if three abuse or neglect reports are filed within a year for the same child or household.
• When someone is convicted of certain crimes against children and lives with a minor after release, DCF must be notified.
• The state will establish a new walk-in crisis center in Stamford.

Senate Bill 5004 passed the Senate unanimously after it previously passed the House and Appropriations Committee by unanimous votes and passed the Committee on Children by a 14-2 tally. With today’s approval, it now heads to Governor Lamont’s desk to be signed into law.