The Mission of the Child Advocate
The Office of the Child Advocate is an independent state agency established in 1995 to protect the civil, legal and special rights of all the children of Connecticut, and to advance policies throughout the state that promote their well-being and best interests.
How Does The Child Advocate Accomplish This Mission?
In order to fulfill the responsibilities of the office, the Child Advocate has the following rights and powers:
- Initiate or intervene in court cases on behalf of children
- Obtain access to any records necessary to properly carry out the mandates, including records from state and municipal agencies, police departments, medical providers, private social service providers, schools and the courts
- Subpoena witnesses, records and documents needed to carry out an investigation or review
- Communicate privately with a child in need of services of the Child Advocate
What Are the Child Advocate's Statutory Mandates?
- Evaluate the delivery of service to children by state agencies and those entities that provide services to children with funds provided by the state
- Review procedures established by any state agency for the delivery of services to children with a view toward the rights of children
- Review complaints concerning the actions of any state or municipal agency providing services to children or any entity that provides services with funds provided by the state
- Investigate those complaints where it appears that a child or family may be in need of assistance from the Child Advocate
- Review facilities and procedures of all public or private institutions or residences where juveniles are placed by the Family Division of the Superior Court or the Department of Children and Families
- Recommend changes in state policies concerning children including changes in systems providing juvenile justice, child care, foster care or treatment
- Take all possible action to secure and ensure the legal, civil and special rights of all children, including conducting programs of public education, undertaking legislative advocacy, proposing systemic reform, and taking formal legal action
- Provide training and technical assistance to attorneys and guardians ad litem representing children in proceedings in the court
- Review the number of special needs children in foster care or permanent care facilities and recommend changes in the policies and procedures or placement of those children
- Serve on the state Child Fatality Review Panel