Department of Children and Families (DCF) attorney
The DCF attorney represents the Department of Children and Families. It is their job to present the DCF case. They communicate with the other attorneys on a case to make sure information is shared and problems fixed. They are responsible for following the rules and standards that apply to the case.
DCF social worker
DCF has different types of social workers:
- Intake workers take calls when a 51A is filed reporting that a child is being abused or neglected
- Investigators (or emergency response workers) investigate those allegations and write a 51B report
- On-going social workers are assigned if a case is opened after the investigation
- Adoption social workers are assigned to the child if the goal changes to adoption
The on-going social workers assess the needs of the family. Then they create an action plan to reunify the children with the parents. They might make referrals or recommendations about services to help. They supervise family time between parents and children. They find placements for children in foster homes or with family members. They write reports for the court to provide updates. All social workers have supervisors and managers who help with cases.
Attorney for a parent
The attorney for the parent represents them in court. They advocate for what the parent wants in the case. They give the parent information about the law and updates on the case. They also provide advice on the legal options available to the parent. They help the parent resolve questions with DCF or other parties on the case.