Personal Belongings Engagement

We aim to create a community-centered, community-led system change. We don't have all the answers and need your input to move forward. This may lead to legislative proposals or procedural changes.

Change will take time and effort, and we ask for your patience as we tackle difficult topics.

We believe communities should drive this process. Other states have approached this issue in different ways, and we look to them for guidance.

We plan to form small workgroups focused on specific policies and procedures for handling personal belongings. Topics for discussion will include who should have access to these items and whether DCYF should continue its current process or adopt a more proactive approach, like New York or Illinois, where centralized locations provide records and personal belongings.

Our plan includes quarterly larger workgroup meetings for updates, along with smaller, more frequent subgroup meetings focused on specific topics.

Engagement Sessions:

• Initial Session: September 18, 2024

• 2nd Session: January 16, 2025 (4:00-5:30 p.m., virtual) – In this meeting, we will focus on forming the workgroups and confirming their main topics.

Workgroups will meet monthly or as agreed, and quarterly meetings will continue to provide updates on progress.