Officials from Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families say that while the fentanyl-related death of a 10-month-old baby in June 2023 triggered a review of its response to the incident, new policy updates being rolled out are meant to address the opioid crisis as a whole.

According to the state’s Office of the Child Advocate, more than 40 children, under the age of 5, have died or nearly died since 2020 in Connecticut. Many children survived because first responders were able to administer Naloxone, which is used in emergency situations to reverse an overdose. Marcello Meadows was the 11th young child to die from opioid ingestion. 

Ken Mysogland, DCF Bureau Chief of External Affairs, said recently that several initiatives have been enacted due to the opioid crisis and the threat it poses to the state’s families. 

“What we want to keep in mind is that our practice in response to the opioid crisis is constantly evolving,” Mysogland said.  What may be the process today, may change over a three or six-month period, Mysogland said. 

Meadows died on June 28, 2023 after ingesting Fentanyl, Xylazine, and cocaine, officials said, just a few weeks after DCF closed its case with the family. The Office of the Child Advocate issued a 26-page investigative report in which they called for improvements within both DCF and the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch (JB-CSSD). 

DCF conducted an internal Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) review of this family’s case.  As a result of the CQI review, which included the review of Marcello’s case, DCF identified system improvements.  

DCF recently announced a pilot program through which DCF staff at offices in Norwich and Danbury will be able to administer and provide naloxone – which is used to treat a narcotic overdose –  to the families they work with. Mysogland said if that program proves effective, DCF will consider expanding it to other parts of the state

DCF has also trained all of its social work staff on how to administer the UNCOPE screening tool, according to Mysogland. UNCOPE consists of asking six questions, and can help provide a way to identify whether there is a risk for substance abuse (alcohol or drugs)  in a home where it has not yet been identified as a problem. 

“We’ve had over 1,305 people who have been trained so far on the UNCOPE,” Mysogland said.

That number includes social workers and their supervisors, program supervisors, and clinic and substance abuse staff. Training will continue through other groups at DCF, he added. UNCOPE will provide another way to support a family and ensure children’s safety. 

According to an August 2023 memo to DCF staff from that office’s administration, staff is to conduct the UNCOPE screening tool at the intake during the initial home visit and as needed while any particular case is pending. 

If the social work staff finds there is an issue with safety, the next step will be to notify their supervisor immediately. Within 72 hours, a Substance Use Multidisciplinary Team Meeting will be held, but that timeframe shrinks to 24 hours for critical incidents. 

Mysogland said the multidisciplinary approach includes collaboration with several other offices, including the state offices of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Social Services, Public Health and the state police.