The term ‘Ward of the State’ means a child who, as determined by the state where the child lives, is a foster child, is a ward of the State, or is in the custody of a public child welfare agency.  ‘Ward of the State’ does not include a foster child who has a foster parent who meets the definition of parent. 

The term parent is defined as any of the following:

• a natural, adoptive, or foster parent of a child (unless a foster parent is prohibited by State law from serving as a parent)
• a guardian (but not the State if the child is a ward of the state)
• an individual acting in the place of a natural or adoptive parent (including a grandparent, stepparent, or other relative) with whom the child lives, or an individual who is legally responsible for the child’s welfare
• an individual assigned to be a surrogate parent

For information on adopting a child, contact CARA (Child Adoption Resource Association, Inc) at: 860-444-0553 or email at: director@adoptacarakid.org. 

• State of Connecticut Contact – Ann Kammerer
  Bureau of Special Education                      
  165 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106            
  Email: ann.kammerer@ct.gov
  Telephone: (860) 713-6916