Press Releases
GOV. MALLOY RE-APPOINTS JOETTE KATZ AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that he intends to re-appoint Joette Katz as Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) when his second term in office begins on January 7, 2015.
"Commissioner Katz has proven that she is someone with the strong leadership capabilities that are required for this important position, along the compassion to see that the most vulnerable among us are protected. She has shown she has the experience to lead a team of dedicated staff who strive to ensure that Connecticut's children and families are healthy, safe, smart and strong," Governor Malloy said. "In the past couple of years, DCF has continued to place a stronger emphasis on placing children who are in state care out of group settings and with a relatives or others whom the child knows, and to reduce the number being served out-of-state. Commissioner Katz and her team have made a number of changes that are showing results, and I look forward to having her on board to continue this critical work."
"It has been a unique privilege to work with our children, our families, our staff and our stakeholders in a remarkable effort to support and strengthen families to do their best in raising children," Commissioner Katz said. "To be given the opportunity to continue to serve Connecticut as we continue our reforms in partnership with our dedicated staff is a tremendous honor."
Commissioner Katz began the position leading DCF
in January 2011
. Immediately prior to her appointment, she was serving as an Associate Justice on the Connecticut Supreme Court. Prior to her service on the bench, she served as an Assistant Public Defender and Chief of Legal Services for the Office of the Chief Public Defender.
DCF has continued to see a number of accomplishments during the past several years. For example, compared to January 2011:
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There are 764 fewer children in DCF care -- a decrease of 16 percent;
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The percentage of children in care who live with a relative or someone else they know grew from 21% in January 2011 to 35.9%;
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The percentage of children in care who live in congregate (group) care dropped from 29.8% in January 2011 to 16.1% - a reduction of 781 children or 54.7%; and
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There are 348 fewer children in out-of-state care - a decrease of 96.1 percent. The number of children out of state stands at 14 as of November 1, 2014 compared to 362 when the administration began.
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For Immediate Release: December 23, 2014
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