Section 17a-4 - (Formerly Sec. 17-413). State Advisory Council on Children and Families. Appointment. Powers and duties(a) There shall be a State Advisory Council on Children and Families which shall consist of the following members: (1) Nineteen members appointed by the Governor, including two persons who are child care professionals, two persons eighteen to twenty-five years of age, inclusive, served by the Department of Children and Families, one child psychiatrist licensed to practice medicine in this state, one health care professional who has expertise in children's health and is licensed in the state, one attorney who has expertise in legal issues related to children and youth, three members of one or more Youth Advisory Boards, as defined in section 17a-10c, one member of an organization that advocates for the protection and advancement of the legal rights of children, one member of an organization that advocates for policies to promote child welfare and seven persons who shall be representative of young persons, parents and others interested in the delivery of services to children and youths, including child protection, behavioral health and prevention services, at least four of whom shall be parents, foster parents or family members of children who have received, or are receiving, behavioral health services or child welfare services; and (2) six members representing the regional advisory councils established pursuant to section 17a-30, appointed one each by the members of each council. Not more than half the members of the council shall be persons who receive income from a private practice or any public or private agency that delivers mental health, substance abuse, child abuse prevention and treatment or child welfare services. Members of the council shall serve without compensation, except for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The Department of Children and Families shall provide the council with funding to facilitate the participation of those members representing families and youth, as well as for other administrative support services. Members shall serve on the council for terms of two years each and no member shall serve for more than three consecutive terms. The commissioner shall be an ex-officio member of the council without vote and shall attend its meetings. Any member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings or fifty per cent of all meetings during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned. The council shall elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson to act in the chairperson's absence.(b) The council shall meet quarterly, and more often upon the call of the chair or a majority of the members. The council's meetings shall be held at locations that facilitate participation by members of the public, and its agenda and minutes shall be posted on the department's web site. A majority of the members in office, but not less than six members, shall constitute a quorum. The council shall have complete access to all records of the institutions and facilities of the department in furtherance of its duties, while at all times protecting the right of privacy of all individuals involved, as provided in section 17a-28.(c) The duties of the council shall be to: (1) Recommend to the commissioner programs, legislation or other matters which will improve services for children and youths, including behavioral health services; (2) annually review and advise the commissioner regarding the proposed budget; (3) interpret to the community at large the policies, duties and programs of the department; (4) issue any reports it deems necessary to the Governor and the Commissioner of Children and Families; (5) review and comment on the reports described in subsection (b) of section 17a-3; (6) independently monitor the department's progress in achieving its goals as expressed in such reports; (7) offer assistance and provide an outside perspective to the department so that it may be able to achieve the goals expressed in such reports; (8) conduct a review of departmental data pertaining to child safety, well-being and permanency not less than twice per year; and (9) conduct an annual evaluation to determine the extent to which the department is discharging its child protection responsibilities under state and federal law.(d) In implementing the duties described in subsection (c) of this section, the council shall prioritize (1) the protection of children from abuse and neglect by ensuring that the state maintains an effective plan to prevent such abuse and neglect and divert children from foster care; (2) the reduction and elimination of preventable child fatalities and the unnecessary removal of children from their homes; (3) permanency and stability in home placements for children, including, but not limited to, the placement of children with family members whenever possible and the successful transition from foster care of youth exiting the child welfare system; (4) the reduction of disparate outcomes between minority and other populations served by the child welfare system; (5) the timely, appropriate and adequate provision of services to children and families to meet the physical, mental health and developmental needs of such children; and (6) collaboration among state agencies in furtherance of the duties described in subsection (c) of this section.(1969, P.A. 664, S. 4; 1971, P.A. 818, S. 2; P.A. 74-150, S. 2; P.A. 75-524, S. 4, 30; P.A. 79-45; P.A. 84-256, S. 12, 17; P.A. 93-91 , S. 1 , 2 ; P.A. 00-188 , S. 1 , 5 ; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 , S. 50 , 69 ; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 , S. 129 , 131 ; P.A. 03-19 , S. 29 ; P.A. 06-196 , S. 103 ; P.A. 09-205 , S. 5 ; P.A. 11-120 , S. 1 ; P.A. 12-82 , S. 2 ; P.A. 13-40 , S. 1 ; P.A. 18-31 , S. 17 .)
Amended by P.A. 24-0126,S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2024 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2024.Amended by P.A. 21-0140, S. 3 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2021 and S. 9 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session eff. 10/1/2021.Amended by P.A. 18-0031, S. 17 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2018 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2018.