Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services, John Polanowicz, said Justina Pelletier should return to her home state of Connecticut in a “letter to the editor” released Friday.
“Justina Pelletier should return to her home state of Connecticut to receive the services and support she needs close to her friends, family, school and community. We strongly believe that this outcome is in Justina’s best interests, and have laid the groundwork to make it happen,” said Polanowicz.
The letter was emailed to Fox CT by a spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services.
“The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) has been working with providers and the State of Connecticut to develop a reunification plan for the family to help achieve this goal as soon as possible,” Polanowicz went on to say.
The 15 year old Pelletier has been in Massachusetts state custody since February 2013 when she was removed from the custody of her parents, Lou and Linda Pelletier.
The Massachusetts Department of Children and Family Services entered the picture after the West Hartford teen was admitted to Boston Children’s Hospital with the flu.
Doctors there disagreed with a prior diagnosis of mitochondrial disease and instead said she suffered from somatoform disorder.
When her parents tried to discharge her, DCF was called to intervene.
Since then, Pelletier’s parents have been fighting through the court system to regain custody of their daughter.
Fox CT broke the story in November 2013.
Here is the full statement released by Polanowicz Friday:
To the Editor
Justina Pelletier should return to her home state of Connecticut to receive the services and support she needs close to her friends, family, school and community. We strongly believe that this outcome is in Justina’s best interests, and have laid the groundwork to make it happen.
The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) has been working with providers and the State of Connecticut to develop a reunification plan for the family to help achieve this goal as soon as possible.
Last year, the Juvenile Court gave custody of Justina to DCF and since then she has received treatment and supports from both DCF and a residential treatment provider in Massachusetts. She has received tutoring, made friends and attended events in the community, including a recent outing to see Blue Man Group.
We were also pleased we could help arrange for Justina to observe religious services and to spend time with her family on Easter. But we hope she is able to spend future holidays with her family in Connecticut.
Contrary to the belief of many, DCF does not have the authority to determine when and if custody should be returned to Justina’s parents. As with all cases of alleged abuse or neglect, that authority is held solely by the court. In this case, after reviewing all of the evidence, the court found that it is in the best interest of Justina to remain in DCF custody for now.
DCF is ready to work with the family around reunification planning and we hope the family will fully engage in this process. We have taken numerous steps to achieve our shared goal of Justina ultimately returning home — and we will stay focused on achieving this result.
— John Polanowicz
Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services