The Administrative Hearings Unit shall conduct Substantiation Hearings.

A preliminary review of the case shall be conducted in the Regional Offices or Hotline, and only cases that continue to include a substantiated allegation of child abuse or neglect shall be appealed to the Administrative Hearings Unit.

Cross-Reference:  34-15-1, Investigation Results and Reviews

Appellant means a perpetrator of child abuse or neglect or the parent/guardian of a minor who is a perpetrator of child abuse and neglect and has requested an appeal of the decision to substantiate.

Child means any person under eighteen (18) years of age.

Commissioner means the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families.

Department means the Department of Children and Families.

Department Records mean information created or obtained in connection with the Department’s child protection activities or activities related to a child while in the care or custody of the Department, including information in the registry of reports to be maintained by the Commissioner pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. §17a-101k.

Guardian means the person who has legal responsibility for the care and custody of a minor child pursuant to an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

Hotline means the Department’s centralized intake unit, which receives all reports of child abuse or neglect made to the Department.

Person Substantiated as a Perpetrator of Child Abuse or Neglect or Perpetrator means an individual determined by the Department to be responsible for 

• abuse, including 

-   physical injury or injuries inflicted upon a child other than

   by accidental  means

-   injuries which are at variance with the history given of them

-   maltreatment such as, but not limited to, malnutrition,

  sexual molestation, deprivation of necessities, emotional

  maltreatment or cruel punishment

or

• neglect, including

-     abandonment

-     denial of proper care and attention, physically,

   educationally,  emotionally or morally

-      permitting a child to live under conditions, circumstances or

    associations injurious to his/her well-being or has been

    abused.

Substantiated means reasonable cause to believe that

• child abuse or neglect has occurred for purposes of confirming child

        abuse or neglect

• a specific person is the perpetrator of a given act of child abuse or neglect. 

Any person, or  parent or guardian of a minor who

• has been substantiated as a perpetrator of child abuse or neglect,  and              
  
  

• has received notice of the decision of the Regional Office/Hotline

        review upholding one or more allegations of child abuse or neglect

may request a substantiation hearing. 

If a person substantiated as a perpetrator of child abuse or neglect wishes to request a substantiation hearing, the request must be made to the Department by the person or his legal representative within thirty (30) days of the person’s receiving written notice from the regional office of their review decision.