About DCF

Connecticut Department of Children and Families

The Department of Children and Families is the state agency responsible for child protection, behavioral health, juvenile justice and prevention services in Connecticut. 

DCF works with families and communities to improve child safety, ensure that more children have permanent families, and advance the overall well-being of children. DCF protects children who are being abused or neglected, and strives to help children who are facing emotional and behavioral challenges.

While DCF certainly has a noble mission, and provides valuable services to families and communities, it sometimes carries out its duties in a heavy-handed way. In fact, DCF sometimes disregards the rights of parents, and will take actions that result in serious harm and detriment to families. Because DCF deals with child protection, the state has granted it an immense amount of power.

When your family becomes involved with DCF, you might feel stripped of your rights and question whether you are still in America. However, you do have rights, and having a qualified attorney is the best way to protect those rights. Please see What to Do When DCF Calls. Read more on my perspective on the Future of DCF.