Connecticut law requires certain professionals, known as mandated reporters, to report to DCF suspected abuse or neglect of children. The common thread among all the mandated reporters is that these individuals have extensive interaction with children. For example, teachers, doctors, therapists and members of the clergy are all mandated reporters. Mandated reporters in Connecticut also…
New York parents who just learned that Administration of Children Services (ACS) planned to pursue adoption of their eight children made a bold move. During a supervised visit, they loaded the children in a van and made a run for it. After a nationwide search, the parents and the children were found a week later…
Effective October 1, 2011, the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) must inform parents of their legal rights at the beginning of the DCF investigation. In the past, an Investigator would sometimes present parents under Investigation with a two page document called a “Parent’s Right to Know Pamphlet.” The pamphlet was 2 pages of…
I came across an article on interviewing adult clients in a child protection case – DCF case. The article divided the interview into four stages: 1. Introductory stage to establish rapport. 2. Information stage to gather facts and perspectives from the client and to organize the evidence in a logical manner. 3. Theory stage. The…
Should DCF assume custody of children who are severely overweight? Yes according to obesity specialist, Dr. David Ludwig, who recently authored an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The argument seems to be that the parent(s) that by failing to maintain the child’s weight at a healthy level they are not…
The DCF Hotline number: 1-800-842-2288. I get calls or emails occasionally from those wishing to make a report. Don’t contact me to make a report. Call 1-800-842-2288 Who should call? Anyone who has a “reasonable suspicion” that a child is the victim of abuse or neglect. Who must call? Mandated reporters such as school personnel,…