• the client age sixteen (16) or older
• the parents, guardian, or caretaker of a child under age sixteen (16)
• the respective attorney or advocate
• staff members representing DCF
• other interested parties.

• the date, time and place of the hearing
• the statutory basis for the hearing
• the right of the client, parent, guardian or other caretaker to be represented by an attorney at his/her own expense
• the principal issues that will be considered
• a copy of the Notice of Proposed Denial, Suspension, Reduction, or Discontinuance of Department Benefits (DCF-800).

The summary shall include the following information:

• the child’s/client’s
  • name, date of birth, legal status and current placement

• the type of request

• the reason for denial, discontinuance, suspension or reduction
• previous similar requests by the same child/client and the reason for their allowance, discontinuance, denial or suspension
• any other information pertinent to the issue for hearing.

• the Hearing Officer
• the client, parent, guardian, or caretaker who has requested the hearing, or their legal representative
• the staff member(s) who have primary responsibility for the case
• any person(s) granted intervenor status by the Hearing Officer.

• the client's parent, guardian, or other caretaker when they are not the requesting party
• relatives or other appropriate parties
• expert witnesses; e.g., psychiatrists, psychologists, other clinicians
• witnesses brought by the parties to the hearing
• administrative and supervisory staff
• an interpreter
• observers, to be allowed at the discretion of the Hearing Officer.

The staff member will be trained in administrative hearings but not involved directly with the case or region.