Connecticut’s child welfare agency is planning to consolidate the administrative functions of two state-run psychiatric programs for children, including Riverview Hospital, a facility some state lawmakers want to close, The Associated Press reports.
The Department of Children and Families issued a report Thursday to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy that recommends having one superintendent administer Riverview, a psychiatric hospital in Middletown, and the Connecticut Children’s Place, a second behavioral health facility in East Windsor that’s operated by DCF.
The report stems from legislation passed last year requiring a report on the future of Riverview.
Republican legislative leaders have called for the closure of Riverview, saying it costs $1 million per child each year and services should be provided more cost-effectively.
DCF says its plan will cut costs by reducing inpatient hospital units and reallocating resources.
