DCFS

Understanding The Department of Children & Family Services in Illinois

It's important that children in our society are protected. There are people who just don't have the capacity to care for their children properly and in those cases it is valuable to have an organization in place that can come in and take the necessary steps to make sure those children receive the care they deserve. The Department of Children & Family Services in Illinois is designed to protect children who have been reported to them as abused or neglected, and to look out for the well-being of those children whether that be through helping a family's capacity to care for them or placing them in another living situation. This is meant to be their mission but in our current society there are many times when the DCFS is called into situations that they do not need to be part of. We've very much developed a 'tattling on' culture where neighbors, family members, or even strangers on the street feel that they have the right to judge others people's actions without fully understanding them.

If you are dealing with the DCFS it's important to reach out to an experienced attorney, one who has dealt with DCFS cases and understands how the organization works. At The Law Office of Brendan W. Caver we’re experienced in all matters of child custody and DCFS investigations. We understand unnecessary extensions of time, incomplete or inadequate investigations routinely plague a system that was originally designed to protect children. We have helped many clients who just want to get their family life back in order. Contact our office today for a free confidential case evaluation.



Common DCFS Questions

If you have been contacted by the Illinois DCFS to inform you about an investigation being conducted against you and your family you are probably feeling afraid, stressed out and possibly panicked. There are a number of questions that come to mind when dealing with the DCFS and allegations being made against you some of which include the following:

1. How Do I Look Up My DCFS Case?

Knowing the status of your case and where they are within their investigations is very important to give you peace of mind. If you want to find out about your active case you will need to contact the DCFS Advocacy Office at 800-232-3798 or 217-524-2029.

2. Can DCFS come into My House in Illinois?

There is a specific procedure that all DCFS child protection investigator's (CPIs) have to abide by. If they come to your home without setting up a formal interview and without a warrant you are not required by law to let them into your home. You can simply and politely ask them from outside to go through the proper channels.

3. Who Can Submit A Report To DCFS?

Really anyone who believes that a child is in danger in the living situation they are currently in can contact the DCFS. This means that they don't have to have a close relationship with you or your family. It could be a nosy neighbor, a family member you are on bad terms with, or an angry ex-boyfriend or girlfriend. Because of this the DCFS does screen the calls that they get and only follow up with about 25% of them. More official people that could contact the DCFS would include people like pediatricians, doctors, teachers, school counselors, social workers, even camp counselors. These are people who are called mandated reporters, which means they are legally required to contact DCFS if they believe a child is being abused or neglected. What can be frustrating is that DCFS is not under any obligation to disclose who made the accusation. You have no way of finding out who called them on your family.

4. How Long Does DCFS Take to Investigate in Illinois?

The DCFS has 60 days from the time that the allegations are originally made to conduct their formal investigation to determine if a child is in danger or not. During this time they will gather evidence to see if the child is at risk by checking out their home life, setting up an interview with the family, as well as setting up interviews with other people involved in the child's life, this list could include:

• The person who made the initial allegations
• The child's doctors or teachers
• The child's immediate and surrounding family members
• Any other person who may have information about the claims in the report
• The child

Depending on their findings during the investigation process, the CPI can create and institute a safety plan for the child that the parents must abide by, or they could remove the child from the home altogether and place them in protective custody.

5. Do You Need A Lawyer During A DCFS Investigation?

If you are contacted by the DCFS about an investigation being opened against you and your family it is highly recommended you contact an experienced DCFS investigation lawyer right away. A CPI and any law officers that might be involved do not care about you or your family. All they care about is proving whether a child is in danger and they will use anything they can against you to make their case. A good defense lawyer will stand by your side they entire time. They will be present when the CPI conducts an inspection of your home and guide you in how to respond to questions being asked of you. They will also prepare a strong defense and look for mistakes being made with the investigation.