Policy

All incidents in which any child's death occurs due to suspected abuse or neglect shall be accepted by the Child Protective Hotline for a protective service investigation.

The death of a child is a critical incident which shall be reported immediately to the following persons:

• Hotline supervisor, Program Supervisor and Administrator
• Regional Administrator
• facility superintendent, if applicable
• supervisor of the Special Review Unit
• Director of Child Welfare Services.

See below for after-hours procedures.

Cross-Reference: 31-8-3, "Critical Incident Reporting Procedures.

In such situations when there are siblings or other minor children remaining in the home, the Hotline worker shall:

• prioritize the report as requiring a 2-hour response to facilitate an immediate response by the DCF investigator

• establish contact with the local police department to assist in obtaining an immediate assessment of the children's safety

• immediately notify the Hotline supervisor and administrator who shall ensure that the Critical Incident Summary/Update Form (DCF-823) is faxed to the Special Review Unit.

Cross-Reference: "Special Review Unit and Commissioner’s Advisory Panel", 34-25-1 to 34-25-8.

In such situations when there are no siblings or other minor children in the home, the police shall take lead responsibility for investigating the report.

• accept the report for protective services investigation

• immediately notify the Hotline supervisor and administrator who shall ensure that the Critical Incident Summary /Update Form (DCF-823) is faxed to the Special Review Unit

• establish contact with the local police department investigating the incident

• request that the police follow-up with regional office investigation staff at the conclusion of the criminal investigation.

• contact the police investigator and offer assistance in the ongoing investigation

• document the results of the police investigation in LINK, including the Investigation Protocol (DCF-2074)

When a child who is known to DCF dies, the Hotline shall notify the regional office according to the guidelines in the following table.

These procedures shall be followed during both regular office hours and after-hours.

Autopsy

When a child who has been under the care of DCF dies after a long-standing medical illness, a request for an autopsy will be reviewed by Hotline or regional office staff in conjunction with the DCF Medical Director.

When DCF is the legal guardian or statutory parent of a child who dies, consent for an autopsy must be given by the person who assumes responsibility for the burial of the body. Department staff will work with family members to obtain consent for an autopsy if the birth family assumes responsibility for burial.

Legal Reference: CONN. GEN. STAT. §19a-286.

Death of a Child After-Hours

If the death of a child who has been in the care of DCF occurs after-hours, Hotline has the following responsibilities:

• telephone the Child Welfare Service on-call manager, supervisor of the Special Review Unit, and the Regional Administrator or regional office on-call manager

• complete and fax the Critical Incident Summary/Update Report (DCF-823) to them.

• provide face-to-face notification to the biological parents after conferring with the regional office administration

• provide necessary follow-up contact and support to the child's caretakers.

Death of a Parent Whose Child is in Out-of-Home Care

When a child is in out-of-home care and the child's parent dies, Hotline worker shall immediately notify the regional office administration, following the procedures for "Notification to Regional Office..." in the above table.

The Hotline staff , child's caretakers and regional office administration shall consult to determine the appropriate means of notifying the child.

When the parent's death occurs after-hours, the after-hours investigation staff shall provide any assistance requested by the regional office.