What DCF Does

 

what dcf does

 

WHAT DCF DOES

MA DCF has a $1.8 billion dollar budget. With that, they are supposed to investigate and address legitimate allegations of abuse/neglect of children. Unfortunately, many loving and caring families get caught by their broad net due to false, retaliatory, or mistaken allegations. During these challenging times, understanding what are my rights during a DCF investigation becomes crucial for parents. 

Why it matters

DCF must treat all allegations as if they are legitimate. As a result, good families spend time, money, and energy fighting these wrongful allegations. This often leads to situations where they must understand their parrents rights against DCF to navigate through the investigation process effectively.

WHAT DCF DOES

DCF conducts various actions when investigating and assessing Massachusetts families. These include:

  • Screening 51A Allegations from mandated and non-mandated reporters.
  • Undertaking Emergency or Non-Emergency 51B investigations.
  • Contacting the reporter, relevant witnesses, and collaterals.
  • Determining whether to unsupport, substantiate, or support allegations of neglect or abuse.
  • Opening a family or institutional assessment.
  • Providing referrals and services.
  • Implementing safety and action plans.
  • Completing a written assessment.
  • Keeping cases open for review.
  • Overseeing Fair Hearings via the DCF Fair Hearing Unit, which plays a crucial role in the DCF appeal process.
  • Upholding or overturning investigation decisions.
  • Filing for Care and Protection of minors.
  • Foster care placement.”

want to go deeper

Explore our Resource Center for more detailed information regarding the DCF investigation process and what DCF does when investigating and assessing MA families. If you’re concerned about DCF parental alienation or how to navigate these complex situations, then contact an experienced Attorney to help provide you a plan to navigate DCF. Avoid the traps and pitfalls others have fallen into that keeps their cases open for months to years