Connecticut House Bill 5004: Foster Care and Kinship Changes Effective October 2026
The kinship provisions of Connecticut House Bill 5004 took effect October 1, 2026. The law changes DCF emergency-placement procedures, adds oversight requirements, and authorizes a grant for kinship caregivers who accept an emergency placement.
The $625 Initial Placement Grant
HB 5004 authorizes a one-time grant of up to $625 for kinship caregivers following an emergency placement. The law says it may be used for clothing, food, safety-related purchases, and other necessities for the child. DCF must establish program guidelines by January 1, 2027; ask DCF about application steps and eligible expenses.
The grant amount is a maximum, not a guaranteed payment, and DCF's guidelines will define the application process.
Updated Monthly Maintenance Payments
Separate state budget revisions increased foster care board rates. The current rate structure:
| Child Age / Complexity | Daily Rate | Approximate Monthly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 0–5 | $27.29 | ~$819 |
| Ages 6–11 | $27.60 | ~$828 |
| Ages 12–17 | $29.95 | ~$899 |
| Medically Complex Level 1 | $31.50 | ~$945 |
| Medically Complex Level 2 | $42.00 | ~$1,260 |
| Medically Complex Level 3 | $58.33 | ~$1,750 |
| Medically Complex Level 4 | $86.10 | ~$2,583 |
These rates apply to licensed foster parents and licensed kinship foster caregivers. They also set the baseline for the DCF Subsidized Transfer of Guardianship (STOG) stipend — when a relative takes permanent guardianship of a child from DCF custody, the monthly stipend matches the prevailing foster care board rate.
Enhanced Oversight Provisions
HB 5004 established additional reporting and oversight requirements for DCF regarding:
- Timeliness of foster care and guardianship payments
- Transparency in how rate adjustments are communicated to caregivers
- Documentation of placement conditions and caregiver support services
The act adds reporting and oversight requirements. If a payment is late or the rate appears incorrect, contact DCF and follow the appeal instructions in any notice you receive.
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Who This Applies To
HB 5004 applies specifically to caregivers within the DCF child welfare system — children who were placed with you by DCF through an Order of Temporary Custody, a formal foster care placement, or a subsidized guardianship arrangement.
It does not apply to:
- Informal kinship caregivers who took a child in voluntarily (your benefits come from DSS programs like TFA child-only)
- Probate court guardians who are not part of a DCF case (your grants come from the Probate Court Kinship and Respite Funds)
If you are unsure whether your situation involves DCF, the key question is: did a DCF social worker place the child with you, or did you take the child in on your own? The answer determines which payment pathway — and which set of recent legislative changes — applies to you.
What to Do Now
If you are a DCF-licensed kinship foster caregiver or STOG guardian:
- Verify that your monthly payment reflects the current rate for the child's age bracket
- Ask your DCF social worker when the $625 grant application process is available and which expenses qualify
- Keep documentation of every payment received — date, amount, and which child it covers
The Connecticut Kinship Financial Help Guide tracks both the DCF and DSS payment pathways side by side, including the HB 5004 updates, so you can confirm you are receiving everything the child is entitled to.
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