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Policy
Manual
ADOPTIONS
Legal Risk
48-9-2
Legal Risk Homes
| Policy |
All children are entitled to a permanent nurturing family
which meets their physical, emotional, medical and educational needs. Efforts of the
Department are first directed at keeping families together. If it becomes necessary to
place a child out of the family home, then reasonable efforts must be made to reunify the
child with his/her family or relatives. |
| Consider Legal Risk Homes |
If reunification with family is not in the child's best
interest, it is crucial that a timely plan for adoption be considered. To avoid multiple
placements, a decision to place in a "legal risk home" should be considered as
soon as it is determined Termination of Parental Rights will be filed. |
| Definition |
A legal risk home is
defined as one which is licensed for adoption, but provides foster care for a child who is
not legally free for adoption. |
| Commitment and Support |
A legal risk family is expected to be able to make a strong
commitment to the child and to be supportive whether the child remains with them
permanently or is returned to the birth family. |
| Adoption |
Should the child become free for adoption, the plan of choice
would be adoption by the legal risk family. |
Connecticut Department of Children and Families Issued:
March 1, 1994
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