I have a child in the custody of the Department of Children and Families. Can I visit them during the Coronavirus crisis?

The Governor’s executive order gives the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families the authorization to issue orders restricting visitation to Albert J. Solnit Children Center and to limit visitation with children placed in the care and custody of DCF to the extent necessary to protect the health and welfare of the children and staff.

Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center – South Campus is a state-administered psychiatric facility for Connecticut’s children who are under the age of eighteen.

The Solnit Center provides comprehensive care to children and adolescents with severe mental illness and related behavioral and emotional problems who cannot be safely assessed or treated in a less restrictive setting.

The South Campus consists of four coed hospital units and three female adolescent psychiatric residential treatment facility cottages.

The Albert J. Solnit Children's Center – North Campus serves as a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility, providing treatment to adolescent males between the ages of 13 and 17 with complex psychiatric needs.

The program is designed to be the bridge from hospital to home and community or as a diversionary placement to avoid the need for a hospital stay.

These are large facilities and there is a need to screen and limit visitors to ensure that there is not a spread of COVID-19.

The order also ensures that there are avenues to conduct service of process for legal proceedings and a way for hearings and screenings to take place without in person contact.

The order itself does not limit visitors. The DCF Commissioner will issue further guidance.