Connecticut lawmakers looking at reforms to DCF, homeschooling

Lawmakers say they’re working on reforms to a child welfare agency that’s been in the spotlight for the past 12 months.  

Rep. Corey Paris (D-Stamford), who co-chairs the Children’s Committee, said that the reform package could include training, oversight, and even more funding for staffing and resources.  

“When the state steps into a family’s life, the bar has to be set extraordinarily high and right now, quite frankly, there are places where we need to do better,” Paris said Friday.  

The legislature begins its session on Wednesday.  

His comments came as the mother and aunt of Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia had court dates this week, both charged in Connecticut with the death of the 11-year-old girl.  

New Britain police found her remains in October, but believe she may have been dead for as long as a year before that.  

DCF had been monitoring Torres-Garcia, raising questions about whether it had done enough to protect her.  

That incident came roughly eight months after a 32-year-old man named “S” claimed he started a fire in his Waterbury home to bring attention to decades of neglect and abuse.  

He and his family also had contact with DCF.  

Sen. Jonathan Perillo, (R-Shelton), agrees with Paris that lawmakers need to look at reforms.  

He wants to see an end to virtual visits, an issue in Torres-Garcia’s case.  

Both lawmakers said they’re talking with DCF about what other changes are needed to avoid similar occurrences.  

Paris was vague on details, though, saying he’s still trying to build a consensus with Republicans, advocates, and DCF. 

The lawmakers said the problem is deeper than the two high-profile incidents.  

A state auditor’s report in June raised concern that DCF lost track of children 3,700 times between fiscal years 2021 and 2023.  

Lawmakers could also look at more oversight of homeschool families.  

Many states require homeschool families to bring their children for an annual visit to a local school, checking in with a mandatory reporter. Connecticut does not.  

Interim Child Advocate Christina Ghio renewed calls in March to change that, saying abusive families can minimize contact with mandatory reporters by claiming they are homeschooling their children.  

That’s what happened when Matthew Tirado died in 2017, and that allegedly happened in the case of “S.”  

Rep. Jennifer Leeper (D-Fairfield), who co-chairs the Education Committee, said lawmakers are looking into the issue, though no proposal has been drafted yet.  

She said she’s trying to find a balance, but she wants to ensure that state laws ensure children are safe and are getting a quality education.  

“Almost every other state has a more robust system to ensure children’s both well-being and also educational attainment and that those families, too, are enjoying a really meaningful and flexible and self-directed homeschooling experience,” she said.  

Perillo said the legislature should focus on DCF reforms.  

“DCF is the authority here, and DCF has been the home of systemic problems for decades,” he said.