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CT DCF rolls out new program to better serve children in need

The “STTAR Enhanced” program will work with children whom DCF employees have determined to need trauma or behavioral health help away from their caretakers.

CONNECTICUT, USA — The Connecticut Department of Children and Families Services (DCF) announced Thursday a new and improved program aimed at keeping kids safe and better benefiting their needs.

The “STTAR Enhanced” program will work with children whom DCF employees have determined to need trauma or behavioral health help away from their caretakers, department leaders said.

DCF Commissioner Jodi Hill-Lilly said this is something they have been collaborating on with other experts for a while.

“It takes all of us working together to best serve our children youth and families,” Hill-Lilly said.

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Leaders said this version of STTAR is new and improved. The original program has been around since 2008 with thousands of children helped.

“The needs of our youth evolve and with that we will assess the impact of these enhancements over time and evolve and needed to meet the needs of our children,” Hill-Lilly said.

This upgraded plan comes after the Office of Child Advocates (OCA) sounded alarms about DCF not handling some family’s cases properly. Some of those cases end with the child dying.

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OCA leaders said some of them could have been preventable if more attention had been paid and diligence done.

There are seven STTAR homes across the state where children who need mental health help or a safe place to stay after a crisis can go. In addition to those homes, two intensive treatment centers are also in the works to help kids in longer terms.

State Rep. Liz Linehan said these homes are helping 42 children at any given time.

“We changed the name to be trauma-informed practice so as we move into this new model it really is important to note we are focused on the treatment of these kids who have gone through trauma,” Linehan said.

The program also includes hiring more staff for upgraded supervision of the children, personalized therapy sessions, reducing the number of kids per home for more personal care, enhancing recreational care for less idle hands, and making beds available for kids in crisis at all times.

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Leaders said they are funding the project by reshuffling funds they already had allotted for DCF programs, which comes out to about $6 million.

DCF staff said they are hoping to have this plan fully implemented by December, with a full report on the progress and findings by January 2025.

Brooke Griffin is a reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at bgriffin@fox61.com. Follow her on FacebookX, and Instagram.

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