DCF Advocacy
The Department of Children and Families is supposed to protect your rights and help you further your goals. In reality, it's hard to know what to expect. MTW wants to support you in knowing what you deserve from DCF, how to plan for your transition from it, and what to do when issues arise so that you can be your best advocate as you navigate the system.
STEP #1: know the system
DCF stands for the State’s Department of Children and Families. This is the agency that intends to work in partnership with families and communities to keep young people safe. When you are involved with DCF, you either have a Child Requiring Assistance Case (CRA) or a Care and Protection Case (C&P) open. In some cases services can be provided on a voluntary basis without court involvement.
When you have a CRA, your parent or original caregiver maintains full custody of you, but receives support from DCF through various services. Most CRA cases are handled by juvenile court probation officers, and judges approve decisions in regular hearings.
When you have a C&P, DCF assumes the role of your guardian, someone who sees to your physical, mental, and economic safety. This relationship can take shape very differently, depending on the type of case you have, the supports you have, and your particular situation. Within a C&P, you will also be expected to hearings relating to your DCF case.
No matter the case you have, though, you should typically be receiving services from DCF in the following areas:
STEP #2: know your rights in dcf
While you have an open case in DCF, you are supposed to get the following things:
1. An Attorney
All young people in the DCF system are entitled to have their own free lawyer to represent them. This attorney is referred to as a DCF Legal Advocate, the lawyer who represents you in everything that has to do with DCF. Your DCF Legal Advocate is required to act according to your direction, and not what they think is in your “best interest.”
2. A Transition Plan
Before you turn 18, DCF is required to work with, and under your direction to develop a plan with meaningful options for your housing, education, health insurance, mentoring, job training, and other support services. The DCF Legal Advocate can help you negotiate with DCF about what must be included in the plan.
3. A Court Hearing
Massachusetts law requires a judge to review the DCF transition plan, and encourages both you and DCF Legal Advocate to be present. This ensures that the transition plan benefits you, and if not, the judge should not close your case.
4. The Option to Continue Until 22
DCF must offer you, if you can provde that you are working on your education, life skills, and employment paths, to continue with DCF services until the age of 22. These services are included under something called a Voluntary Placement Agreement, which we'll explain below.
These rights are incredibly important, but DCF doesn't always protect them. You may have to advocate to get them sometimes.
STEP #3: know your people
There are a variety of people involved in DCF who can support your case and your goals as you prepare to age out. Here's a starting list of who to stay in touch with.
Your DCF Case Worker
A DCF Case Worker is a social worker who is responsible for making sure you are safe and living in an environment where you can be happy, healthy, and getting the services you need. Your DCF Case Worker is responsible for meeting with you once a month and coordinating your services making sure you are getting what you need. They are typically the first point of contact that you have with DCF, and your first call if an issue arises with DCF.
Your DCF Legal Advocate
When your DCF case opens, you are assigned an attorney from the Committee for Public Council (CPCS)’s Children and Family Law (DCF LEGAL ADVOCATE) Division. This is known as your DCF Legal Advocate, but are sometimes known as CAFL Attorneys or Bar Advocates. A DCF Legal Advocate’s job is to protect your rights throughout your time with DCF and your transition out of it. When you ask your attorney for help, they can better advocate for what you want.
Your YDM
While your YDM isn't technically involved in DCF, they regularly call your worker to give them updates on your progress at MTW. Once they're informed, they can advocate for your rights within DCF. Let your YDM know about any important updates from DCF, like your upcoming action plan meetings, transition planning meetings, and any case closure notifications you get.
STEP #4: meet your dcf legal advocate
The first step to protecting your rights is making sure you're keeping your legal representation in the loop about your case and your goals.
To do this you'll need to contact your DCF Legal Advocate. Call CPCS at 617-910-5800. Use the script below to ask for your DCF Legal Advocate’s contact info:
Hello,
This is _______________. I’m involved with DCF and I am reaching out to find out who my DCF Legal Advocate is and the best way to reach them. My full name is __________________ and my date of birth is __ /__ /_____. I’m currently employed as a ____________ at More Than Words. Please let me know if there is any more information you need from me.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
[Name]
Once you get your DCF Legal Advocate’s information, send it to your YDM so they can keep it on file. Then, reach out via email to introduce yourself and invite them to MTW:
Dear ______,
My name is ___________ and I just found out you were my DCF Legal Advocate. I am hoping we can find a time to speak on the phone or meet in person. I work as a _________ at More Than Words in Boston. This could be a place where you could come meet with me and my Youth Development Manager. We are located at 242 E Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02118. Here is the website if you want to learn a bit more about what I do www.mtwyouth.org.
Thank you and hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
______________
STEP #5: plan for transition
DCF is legally required to set you up with a transition plan that gives you safe, long-term housing and paths forward for your educational and employment goals.
There are four important documents DCF uses to set up this transition. It's in your best interest to know what they are, how they work, and how you can use them to advocate for yourself within DCF.
An action plan is a document that outlines your housing, education, and employment goals and expectations and DCF’s responsibilities to you. You are expected to review it every 6 months with your DCF Case Worker.
A transition plan is the document that states everything DCF is giving you to make sure you are set up for life after DCF. Legally, a transition plan must include a plan for safe, long-term housing.
A 90-Day Letter is a formal notice that DCF sends when they plan to close your case. They are required to send you one 90 days before your 18th birthday, but can send you one anytime they want to close your case.
A voluntary placement agreement (VPA) is a document you can sign in the month before you turn 18 to continue some DCF services until you turn 22, usually to secure housing and education supports.
STEP #6: gather your resources
If you are currently involved with DCF or have been involved with DCF in the past, you may be eligible for funds, grants, and opportunities in Massachusetts and at the federal level:
A partner of MTW that provides one-time funds for a range of essentials. To apply, talk to your YDM.
Part of the Chafee Program, offers up to $5,000 a year for PSE until the age of 26 for former DCF youth.
Your assigned DCF Case Worker after you age out who can help you in your transition.
36-month-long housing vouchers for youth at risk of homelessness at age 16 or older.
Monthly payments that arrive twice a month and pay for school and living expenses while on a VPA.
Program preparing young people for DCF transition. Once completed, youth receive $500 in driver’s ed.
Residential programs designed to support young parents with childcare, healthcare, and life skills.
The state agency that has programs for buying groceries and other essentials and paying for childcare.
Want to know more? MTW has compiled a detailed guide to navigating DCF, getting into the finer points of the system, transition planning, and advocacy within DCF. Check it out below: