Center for Children’s Advocacy
Teen Legal Advocacy Clinic
October 2006
The following are selected policy changes affecting youth in DCF care (effective August 2006). All of the adolescent policies can be accessed on the DCF website, Adolescent Services page (
Community Housing Assistance Program (42-5-3): To be eligible for admission to the Community Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) youth shall be DCF committed (abuse, neglected, uncared for), at the time of placement into the program or at the youth’s eighteenth (18th) birthday, have obtained a high school diploma or a Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED), have exhibited adequate social, behavioral and life skills, per Adolescent Specialist assessment and case record, have successfully completed a DCF's approved Life Skills Program, and be enrolled, in good standing (per the standards of the institution), in a full-time educational or vocational-education program, including Job Corps and/or Americorps.
This policy change adds a requirement that a youth have a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible for CHAP, increases the monthly rent allotment, and adds a transition period from DCF.
Re-Entry to Adolescent Services (42-20-50): A youth who is between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21), and who has left the care of the Department may be eligible to re-enter the Department’s Adolescent Services Program.
Formerly, youth were allowed to re-enter on a one time basis only.
Decision to Decline Services (42-10-4): The Department shall not accept a decision to decline services by committed youth who are younger than eighteen (18) years of age, unless a discharge from Department care has been sanctioned by a court order such as a revocation of commitment or emancipation.
This policy change standardizes the Departments practice re youth who no longer wish to receive DCF services.
Supportive Work, Education, and Transition Program (SWET) (Formerly: PALS) (42-5-2): The target population is DCF committed (abuse, neglected, uncared for) youth age sixteen (16) and over whose treatment plan goal is independent living. Youth who are currently in residential care, group home, or foster care, and are prepared for involvement in a less restrictive setting, but are not yet ready for living independently in the community, are eligible for consideration.
High School Senior Year Expenses (42-20-19): The Department shall provide financial assistance to a committed youth for his/her high school senior year expenses, up to a maximum of $500.00.
This raises the maximum from $440 to $500 and adds additional allowable expenses.
[NEW] Community Housing, Employment, and Enrichment Resources Program (CHEER) (42-5-4): The Department shall offer a Community Housing, Employment, and Enrichment Resources (CHEER) Program, and provide financial assistance to youth eighteen (18) years of age or older who have:graduated from high school or obtained a General Equivalency Diploma (GED); completed the Community Life Skills Program, and; demonstrated an interest in pursuing post-high school services, by signing the DCF-779, Notice at Age of Majority, and committing forty (40) productive hours to pursue an identified career goal per week.
[NEW] Special Study Foster Homes (42-4-1): The Department may place a youth who is fourteen (14) years of age or older with a special study foster parent for a period up to ninety (90) days when such placement is in the best interests of the child, provided that:
a satisfactory home visit is conducted; a basic assessment of the family is completed; the special study foster parent and any adult living within the household have not been convicted of a crime or been arrested for a felony against a person, injury or risk of injury to or impairing the morals of a child, or the possession, use or sale of a controlled substance. The special study foster parent shall be subject to licensure by the Department if the placement of the youth exceeds ninety (90) days.
[NEW] Adolescent Planning Conference (42-10-2): The Area Office shall identify all DCF youth thirteen (13) years of age or older who are placed in out of home care, including those receiving Voluntary Services, with the purpose of holding a case conference for each youth. The conference shall be held separately from, and prior to, the Administrative Case Review (ACR) scheduled before the youth’s fourteenth (14th) birthday.