Connecticut DCF Investigations of Neglect can be unsettling. Usually an Investigation starts when mandated reporters such as teachers, guidance counselors, school social workers and therapists call the DCF Hotline. All they need is “reasonable suspicion” to contact DCF.
There are five categories of Neglect:
1. Physical Neglect – is the failure to provide and maintain adequate food, clothing, supervision and safety for a child. In my experience, this is the most common neglect allegation.
2. Medical Neglect – is the unreasonable delay, refusal or failure to seek, obtain and/or maintain those services necessary for medical, dental or mental health care.
3. Educational Neglect – occurs when the parent or guardian fails to register the child in school, fails to allow the child to attend school (or home school child) or fails to appropriate steps to ensure regular attendance at school.
4. Emotional Neglect – is the denial or proper care and attention, or failure to respond, to a child’s affective needs, which has an adverse impact on the child or seriously interferes with a child’s positive emotional development.
5. Moral Neglect – occurs when a parent or guardian or other individual entrusted to care for a minor encourages that child to engage in illegal activities such as using alcohol or drugs or stealing. In my experience, this is the least common type of Neglect Investigation but serious nonetheless.
Get an attorney involved at the beginning of any DCF Investigation to properly assess the issues and determine the best strategy.
Please contact me for more information regarding Connecticut DCF Investigations of Neglect.