Senator Fasano Reacts To Governor Malloy’s Plan to Cut DCF Funding [WTNH]
November 24, 2014HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)- Connecticut is facing a huge budget deficit, so Governor Malloy has decided to cut $9.2 million from the Department of Children and Families, and one state senator doesn’t agree with that.
“I am astonished that this administration’s answer to a staggering deficit is to cut funding from one of the most struggling state agencies,” said State Senator Len Fasano (R-34). “DCF provides services that are a core function of government. They are responsible for protecting each and every child in Connecticut, a task that has proved to be both challenging and in need of stronger resources.”
Senator Fasano also cited a $455,125 cut to child abuse and neglect intervention, a $415,039 cut to community based prevention programs, and a $94,610 cut to family violence outreach and counseling, on child fatalities in our state. Fasano said twenty two children have died because of abuse and neglect in the last 18 months alone.
“We’ve also seen an ‘unprecedented’ number of child homicides involving children who should have been protected by DCF, according to the Child Advocate’s recent 2013 Child Fatality report,” said Senator Fasano. “In spite of these horrifying numbers, the administration is cutting almost a million dollars from programs that specifically target high risk home situations to prevent child deaths.”