Counselling and Support Groups
While DCFS does remove children from homes, this is generally seen as a last resort. Typically there are other steps DCFS takes in order to remedy the situation before putting a child through the traumatic process of removing them from their home. It’s common for DCFS to want to see parents involved in some form of counselling, assuming that counselling will help remedy the situation. These other tasks or services are what is sometimes called a team and family safety plan. For example, if your spouse gets angry and throws things, punches holes in the wall, or yells and screams at you and your children, DCFS may want to see that your spouse is currently in therapy for their anger problems. They may also want to see that you’re in marriage counselling as well, especially if there’s a lot of conflict in the marriage and that conflict is affecting the children—this can happen when children witness a lot of fighting, for instance. DCFS may also want to see that you attend support groups and take advantage of other mental health resources. In some cases, DCFS may connect you with the necessary resources. It is possible that you will be ordered to attend therapy and/or support groups.
Parenting Classes
DCFS may have you take parenting classes, especially if your form of discipline is considered abusive by the state’s laws or they believe you don’t have the appropriate skills to appropriately care for the child. These parenting classes can be voluntary, or they can be court-ordered. While you may not be thrown in jail for refusing to take court ordered parenting classes, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be any consequences at all. If DCFS is recommending that you take parenting classes, it may be in your best interests to follow DCFS’s recommendations, even if they’re just recommending the classes as opposed to initiating court action to compel you to take the classes. DCFS may also help you find parenting classes, recommend specific parenting classes, and connect you with resources to help you succeed as a parent. In many cases, it may be in your best interests to follow DCFS’s recommendations to show that you are serious about rectifying the situation. DCFS’s investigations can be invasive and long, so you may want to do what you can to get DCFS to end their involvement.
Substance Abuse Treatment
DCFS may also coordinate substance abuse treatment if that’s a concern in your case. You may be asked to complete a substance abuse program before or after your child is removed from your custody. In some cases, substance abuse treatment may be court-ordered, especially as an alternative to time in jail, or as part of a plea deal. If substances have impacted the way you parent and care for your child, you may need to attend a substance abuse treatment program even if DCFS isn’t coordinating it or the court isn’t ordering you to complete a treatment program. Failure to complete a substance abuse treatment program and failure to test negative for recreational substances may result in children being removed from the home, especially if you aren’t able to provide your child with the necessary care due to an active substance addiction.
Placing Children in Foster Care
Not all foster parents are equipped to provide support to every child in need of a temporary home. When foster children need a temporary home, case workers work diligently to find a home that will be a good fit for the child as well as the other people already living in the home. Different children have different needs that may be best served by specific foster parents. While uncommon, there are situations where children are removed from the home without notice or warning. This is very unusual and typically only occurs when there is an emergency situation where the child is in immediate danger. In cases where a child needs immediate placement, DCFS workers are generally tasked with finding a temporary dwelling for children who have been removed from the home due to an emergency.
Reunification with Biological Parents
DCFS’s goal is actually to reunite children with their biological parents—and they’re not necessarily unsuccessful in doing so, as nearly half of children in foster care are eventually reunited with their biological parents. Case workers facilitate reunification by providing parents with resources such as parenting classes (or ensuring that you’re participating in parenting classes if they’re court ordered), setting up visitation between the child and the parent, coordinating family therapy, and more.
When DCFS Is on Your Door Step
If you’re currently working with DCFS and you need an attorney to advocate for you, CoilLaw is here for you. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.
