Guidebook

The foster parent is not a party to the case, meaning the foster parent has no right to participate directly in it through an attorney. The foster parent may, however, be a witness in the case, called by DCF’s or the child’s attorney. By statute, foster parents have some limited rights: to notice of any…

There are a number of different court meetings, hearings, and trials that you will hear about as a foster parent. The most typical outcome of any particular day your child’s case is discussed or heard within the court system is…. Nothing. Most court dates are either check-ins for the court to briefly hear the status…

There is typically no shortage of attorneys of attorneys and other court personnel involved in a DCF case. Parents’ Attorneys Each birth parent will have his or her own attorney, because they may be in different positions with respect to their ability and availability to parent. This means there can be as few as one…

Children in foster care will start visiting with their birth family very soon after they enter care, sometimes as quickly as the next day. Typically, Family Time with birth parents will be supervised and held weekly for one hour at a DCF office. As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, family time has been increasingly…

DCF’s practices and policies with regard to foster care can be complicated and idiosyncratic. These practices are not always standardized and can vary from office to office, or even social worker to social worker. However, there are a series of typical milestones that form the backbone of how a case moves through the foster care…

Being a foster parent is never an easy or straightforward experience. Inevitably, you will encounter challenges you weren’t expecting, surprises you’re not sure how to handle, and difficult situations that leave you wondering about the best course of action. The child welfare system is not perfect – many of us think it’s terribly broken –…

The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) is an enormous government bureaucracy, with a number of important responsibilities that support the safety and wellbeing of children and families in Massachusetts. Although foster care is a large part of DCF’s activities, it is by no means the only part. The majority of families receiving DCF…