Parents often don’t fear the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) until someone from this agency comes knocking on their door. They do so as someone has made an allegation of abuse or neglect and the department has been assigned to investigate. There are numerous situations that may lead to this allegation and parents need to be familiar with them. In addition, there are steps that should be taken to protect the family, and one of these steps often involves hiring an attorney to craft a DCFS Defense in St Charles. What does every parent need to know in this situation?
First and foremost, the department opens an investigation when a person calls into their hotline to report a belief that a child is being abused and/or neglected. A report is taken, and the department determines if it meets the qualifications to be investigated. They will then begin speaking to the person accused of abuse and/or neglect, the person who made the report, other family members and anyone who may be in a position to provide information relating to the case. The department cannot determine which cases are valid and which are not without this information, and parents need to keep this in mind when speaking to representatives of the department but should do so with an attorney present.
Many times, the report is made based on a simple misunderstanding, such as when a child gets hurt and a medical worker reports abuse and/or neglect. At other times, the report may be made during a heated custody battle, as one parent is trying to hurt the other and is using the child to do so. Parents shouldn’t panic but should contact an attorney for guidance as a simple statement may be misconstrued by employees of the department.
Calls to the department may lead to criminal charges, the loss of custody of a child or more, thus parents need help in resolving the matter. An experienced attorney works to build a DCFS Defense in St Charles that will ensure the rights of both the parent and child are protected, and the family stays together. This is of the utmost importance, so don’t fight the department alone. Seek help immediately and contact to learn more, so you are prepared for any situation.
