Choose State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington, D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Last Updated: October 6, 2009

Connecticut

State Coordinator(s)

Connecticut Department of Children and Families
Frank Martin
Independent Living Coordinator
505 Hudson Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: (860) 550-6592
Fax: (860) 566-6727
Email: FRANK.MARTIN@po.state.ct.us

2009 Chafee Allocation

$1,550,651

2009 ETV Allocation

$521,437

Number of youth 16-21 (most current AFCARS data -2006)

1324

State's Chafee Mission Statement

The vision of the Department of Children and Families, Bureau of Adolescent and Transitional Services is to provide each youth in our care with the skills, supports and resources to succeed as adults. To address this goal, the Department has developed a holistic, strength-based and culturally competent service system to meet the needs of youth in every facet of out-of-home care.

Who is Eligible for Chafee Services?

Any youth age 14 and up in the care of the Department are eligible for Chafee benefits.

What is the State's Definition of Room and Board?

Room and Board are all costs associated with maintaining a youth in care including foster care payments, rent, food, utilities, heat, telephone, transportation, clothing, miscellaneous and cost of schooling. Medical coverage is also provided to the age of 21. Youth who remain in voluntary placement until 23 receive medical coverage until that time.

Maximum Age that Youth may Remain in Care

23

No additional information is available.

Under what Conditions Can a Youth Remain in Care Beyond 18?

The Department has three tiers of programming available for youth who are 18 and over. The first tier is for youth who continue in a secondary education program. They are eligible to voluntarily continue in services until their graduation or receipt of their GED. The second tier is for youth who have graduated from high school or received their GED. They are eligible, to voluntarily continue in services, to work or be in a job training program for one year following their graduation. The third tier is for youth who are in approved accredited post secondary educational programs. Youth can, on a voluntary basis, continue to receive DCF services if they attend a vocational, two or four year college until the age of 21, if they attend on a full time basis or pre-approved part-time basis and maintain a 2.0 GPA. Youth who have earned a minimum of 24 credits, by the end of the school year following their 21st birthday, may continue to receive services until the end of the school year following their 23rd birthday.

Is the Extended Medicaid Option Available for Youth Until 21?

Yes

The Department has developed a process where each youth, whether they continue to receive services or do not, are identified and notified by their social worker that they can continue to receive medical benefits until their 21st birthday as long as the DCF Medical Assistance Unit has an address. The worker completes a form with each youth which includes their current address and forwards a copy to Medical Assistance Unit and the Bureau of Adolescent and Transitional Services. 

Can Youth in Care Get Driver’s Licenses?

Yes

The Department currently provides half of the cost of a certified drivers' education program and requires that the youth provide the remainder of the cost.

The Statewide Youth Advisory Board members have been in discussions with the Commissioner around support from the Department for their drivers license and cost of insurance. 

Does the State Offer Tuition Waivers for Foster Youth?

Yes

The Department of Children and Family Services has established a policy that enables the Department to pay for a youth's educational expenses beyond what is covered by grants and scholarship awards.  Such expenses may include tuition, fees, room and board, books, tutoring, and health care.  A youth may be eligible for this assistance until the age of 23.

Does the State Have a Youth Leadership Program?

Yes

Connecticut has both Area Office Boards and a Statewide Youth Advisory Board comprised of two members from each office board. There are 12 Area Office Boards consisting of 6 to 14 members which meet one to two times per month. Two representatives from each board meet on a quarterly basis with the commissioner. A second quarterly statewide meeting is held with two to four youth from each board with representatives from the Bureau of Adolescent and Transitional Services. For more information, please contact the Connecticut Independent Living Coordinator found on the NCWRCYD State by State pages.