October 13, 2021
Contact: Camilla Jenkins, cjenkins@childrensrights.com
BRIDGEPORT, CT — The court monitoring team in the ongoing federal child welfare reform lawsuit known as Juan F. v. Lamont released the latest report on the progress of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) amid ongoing efforts to improve its child welfare system.
The lawsuit, led by national advocacy organization Children’s Rights and Stamford-based Wofsey, Rosen, Kweskin & Kuriansky, LLP, requires specific improvements to DCF’s system for protecting abused, neglected and at-risk children in DCF custody, as well as those at risk of entering custody.
Ira Lustbader, Chief Program Officer at Children’s Rights, and Steven M. Frederick, Co-managing Partner of Wofsey, Rosen, Kweskin & Kuriansky issued a joint statement:
“We commend this administration for showing sustained compliance with reforms in the areas of in-home visitation and meeting the service needs of children served by the Department of Children and Families. These improvements not only meet specific obligations under the federal Juan F. reform litigation, but also reflect better support for children and families served by DCF. As the pandemic continues, it’s more important than ever that the system be designed to keep families together and minimize the need for out-of-home foster care. We will continue to work closely with DCF leadership and the Court Monitor to progress towards eventual complete compliance and exit from the federal reform lawsuit.”
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Every day, children are harmed in America’s broken child welfare, juvenile justice, education, and healthcare systems. Through relentless strategic advocacy and legal action, we hold governments accountable for keeping kids safe and healthy. Children’s Rights, a national non-profit organization, has made a lasting impact for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children. For more information, please visit www.childrensrights.org.
ABOUT WOFSEY, ROSEN, KWESKIN & KURIANSKY, LLP
Worsey, Rosen, Kweskin & Kuriansky, LLP is a full-service law firm founded in 1915 with offices in Stamford and New Canaan Connecticut. For more information, please visit www.wrkk.com.