How many children are currently in probate court-appointed guardianships?
The Probate Court Administrator’s Office does not maintain data on the total number of children who are living with probate court-appointed guardians or on the number of people who have been appointed as guardians. Between January 1993 and December 1999, the court removed guardianship (typically from one or both parents) in 10,333 cases, averaging 1,433 cases a year. It also appointed 5,506 temporary guardians during that period, about 787 a year. The long-term trend for both types of appointments is upward. What demographic data does DCF maintain on the home studies it does for the probate court on people petitioning to become guardians and the children? DCF has not yet responded to this question. Can the state receive federal Title IV-E reimbursements for children cared for by a probate court-appointed guardian if the court determines that the child needs voluntary mental health services? The state can receive IV-E payments for children voluntarily placed in DCF’s care by their legal
