Effective May 31, 2024, all applicants for nursing licensure and advanced practice authorization, including renewal applications, will be required to attest as to whether they have a history of supported findings of abuse or neglect with the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The self-attestation upon initial licensing will request disclosure for any cases in the past 10 years, aside from sexually based offenses which will have a permanent lookback period.
Bureau of Health Professions Licensure (BHPL) will continue to collect the Child Protective Service (CPS) Background Record Request Form ("Adam Walsh" form) during the initial application process, along with the new self-attestation.
This DCF background check procedure will improve operational efficiency at BHPL and DCF while still ensuring appropriate applicant screening. Implementation of a lookback period will reduce operational burden at BORN and DCF and, importantly, will also reduce the impact of institutional biases created within the DCF system where there is no ongoing risk to the public.