Building bonds with children once they are placed in your care
Child Protective Services in the United States is a branch of the Health and Human Services Department that responds to reports of child abuse or neglect. The agency intervenes in cases of neglect or abuse and places the children in temporary foster homes or temporary custody with relatives. Often, the surrogate parent will try to obtain permanent custody of the child. According to the State of Connecticut's Department of Children and Families website, "The mission of any child welfare division is to protect children, improve child and family well-being and support and preserve families."
Instructions
Get Custody Once DCF Places a Child with You
1. Adoption requires stability.
Prepare your case. Gaining custody requires that you can prove to authorities that your home is a suitable and safe environment for the child. According to the Health and Human Services Committee, "The Department of Children and Families commissioner must investigate placing the child with relatives and, where practicable, requires the commissioner to report on a relative's suitability at the first court hearing in the case." This report of your home will include a complete investigation by a social worker to ensure the safety and well-being of the environment. If a child has been placed with you and you are seeking custody, you must have a home environment review by a social worker.
2. Children's welfare and well-being above all else.
Consider the child first. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report on the Administration of Children and Families, a recent study found that, "Specifically, children maintained in in-home settings showed the most improvement in behavior and functioning." Place the child's custody concerns above all else to insure that the home remains stable and safe. If a child has been placed with you through an agency, most likely the child came from an negative home situation and you have a social worker assigned to your case who will be following the child's status. You can visit their website for additional information.
3. Request a permanency hearing. According to the HHS website, the "decisions that have a significant effect on the lives of children and their families are made at permanency hearings." Your assigned social worker can help to arrange a custody hearing. The courts will then determine if custody is in the best interest of the child through the permanency hearing.
4. Arrive prepared. Everything should be documented in advance before attending a permanency hearing. According to the HHS website, the "decisions that have a significant effect on the lives of children and their families are made at permanency hearings." The courts will then determine if custody is in the best interest of the child through the permanency hearing.
5. Know your rights. As a parent or potential parent seeking custody, you have certain rights. The State of Connecticut, for example outlines them in the Q&A for its Department of Children and Families. They include the following:
The right to request an interpreter be present at your proceedings
The right to request and view all documents related to your custody case
The right to request answers to all of your questions
The right to have people of your own choosing accompany you to a custody hearing with DCF social workers
The right to privacy. Your custody records cannot be released to the public but can be used by investigating agencies to determine the outcome of your custody hearing
You have the right to an attorney
Tags: Children Families, permanency hearing, social worker, custody hearing, Department Children