What is the Department of Children and Families?

What is the Department of Children and Families?

The Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) was created in 1969, to administer juvenile correctional facilities. DCF Web Page.

In 1974, the legislature transferred child welfare services to DCF to protect children from abuse, neglect and abandonment. DCF Web Page.

DCF is a state agency, under the Executive Branch of Government.

While DCF is a state agency, the federal government is involved in the area of child protection, so states such as Connecticut have an interest in meeting federal standards.

State and federal laws sometimes intertwine. For example, when redacting paperwork requested by attorneys for cases pending at SCJM, paralegals/attorneys at DCF Legal have to consider issues that may involve protected health information. Besides state and federal law, some cases may fall under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), which is federal legislation.

DCF has a Commissioner, who is appointed by the Governor. The Commissioner is not elected position.

DCF is under the Executive Branch of State Government and has its Central Office located at 505 Hudson Street, in Hartford. DCF area offices are divided into different Regions. Most of the DCF employees work for a specific office, but some cover regions.