A week ago, I went to see my friends for lunch, and we were discussing House Bill 5468, which was going to be under consideration this week. One of my friends said it’s good that in some families DCF would come and identify abuse—that there would be fewer victims of domestic abuse. And for families who are not abusive, this bill would do nothing, because those families have nothing to worry about.
To that, I responded.
DCF came to my house as well. In fact, I welcomed them without a lawyer, thinking there was nothing that could possibly be said against me. I believed I was a good mother. I believed the truth would be enough.
The notes from DCF stated they found nothing supporting the allegations made against me.
Nevertheless, the final paragraph read:
“Wherefore, based on the aforementioned allegations, the Department believes the youth has been neglected and is in immediate physical danger from his surroundings, and immediate removal from such surroundings is necessary to ensure his safety”.
Ilene was removed from her family. Today, she rests in a cemetery.
So when I hear that “this will only affect abusive families,” I cannot help but question that certainty.
Recently, homeschooling families in Connecticut have been living in fear that House Bill 5468 would pass. The bill, advanced by the Education Committee in March 2026, requires homeschooling families to provide annual proof of “equivalent instruction,” mandates in-person withdrawal from public schools, and involves checks for abuse or neglect history with the Department of Children and Families.
Supporters of the bill point to tragic cases—such as the death of Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia and the long-term abuse of a man known as “S.” in Waterbury—as justification for increased oversight.
And I agree—there are families where abuse exists, and those situations must be addressed.
But I also believe something important is being ignored.
The majority of parents love their children. They are not trying to harm them. They are trying to raise them, protect them, and give them the best life they can.
So my question to those proposing this bill is simple:
Why is the scrutiny directed so heavily at homeschooling families, but not at other environments where children spend most of their time?
If homeschoolers must prove the safety and quality of their children’s education, why is there no equivalent investigation into what happens in schools?
What about bullying—something many children endure every single day?
What about students struggling with mental health, or developing suicidal thoughts?
What about those who have taken their lives while in school?
What about parents who have concerns about the content their children are required to engage with?
What about school safety itself?
And what about children removed from their homes—how often do we examine what happens to them afterward?
If the goal is truly to protect children, shouldn’t all environments be held to the same standard?
In Connecticut, we also know that even ordinary parental discipline can sometimes be interpreted as abuse. So where is the line—and who decides when it has been crossed?
What happened to Ilene, many already know. DCF had a significant impact on her life—and not a positive one.
Below is a video of Ilene practicing ice skating. She did it for about five years. She loved it. And I was always there, all five years—watching her, supporting her, freezing in the cold while she worked hard and improved.
After all, that’s what abusive and neglectful parents do.
They show up. They stay. They care.