When you report a case of child abuse or neglect to the Department of Children and Families in Connecticut, due process ensues. First, the DCF will evaluate the allegations to determine the child(ren)’s safety and ask a series of questions.
Let us look at what happens when you report a case of child abuse or neglect to the DCF in Connecticut.
Questions the DCF will ask when you file the report
When you bring the complaint to the DCF, the screener will request some information, such as your name and relationship to the child. Other information you may need to provide the DCF includes:
- The names, ages, emergency contacts, and language(s) spoken of the children
- The names, ages, addresses, languages spoken, and contact information of the parents or guardians
- Names of other children, if any, in the family
- Your worries – that is, the nature and extent of the suspected abuse with evidence of prior similar incidents
- How you got to know about the injuries, abuse, or neglect
- Date the maltreatment may have occurred as well as timeframes
- What has been done so far to protect, treat, or assist the abused children
- Who may be responsible for the maltreatment if known
- Other likely helpful information you can think of to establish the person responsible and the cause of injury
- Other information helpful in ensuring the child’s safety
What happens after DCF receives the report of child abuse in Connecticut?
Typically, when someone files a report of child abuse or neglect in Connecticut, DCF screens the report. The essence of the screening is to ascertain whether or not the allegation can be considered suspected neglect or abuse. Also, the screening helps DCF determine whether the child’s safety is in danger.
Therefore, as soon as DCF receives the report, screening begins, which includes gathering information from the reporter. Apart from gathering information, other things that happen during the screening process include:
- Review of the child’s or family’s history with DCF or any other child protection agency, even in another state
- Identity inquiries, if needed
- CORI and SORI checks
- Information requests from local law enforcement in Connecticut
- Contact with other collaterals associated with the family in any way
- Clinical consultations, especially for children with multiple reports filed concerning them
- Investigating or searching online sources, including social media, if needed
If the report meets these criteria, it will be screened-in; otherwise, the report will be screened-out. If the report is screened in, emergency responses start as soon as possible, and the child gets visitors for two hours. Also, DCF will interview the family within 24 hours and may complete other response activities within five business days.
Alternatively, if the case requires non-emergency responses, the child will be visited within three business days. Screening generally takes one business day, although it may add one more day, depending on the circumstances.
Potential response outcomes to child abuse report in Connecticut
When someone files a child abuse or neglect report in Connecticut, one of three things happens. These include support finding, substantiated concern finding, or unsupported finding:
- Support finding: This means there is reasonable cause to believe the child or children were abused or neglected. Also, the parent’s or caregiver’s actions or inactions could pose serious risks to the child.
- Unsubstantiated concern finding: This means there is reasonable cause to believe there was child neglect and the parents’ or caregivers’ actions or inactions created room for abuse. However, there is no immediate danger to the safety or well-being of the child in this circumstance.
- Unsupported finding: “Unsupported finding means there is no reasonable cause to believe there was child abuse or neglect or that the perpetrator was not a caregiver. In this case, there is no need for DCF intervention,” says Attorney Mark Sherman of Connecticut DCF Defenders.
Conclusion
If you have reasons to believe that a child is being abused or neglected, you should report to DCF in Connecticut. With this guide, you have a good understanding of what happens when you do and the potential outcomes to expect.
