The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is an institution that was established to ensure the safety of children. This was created in response to the societal need to provide stability and regulate a household. One of the statuses in DCF is the commissioner. Angelo McClain’s role as commissioner is to oversee the employees and make sure the institution is running effectively and up to it’s maximum potential.
One of the programs that DCF offers is foster parenting. In order to qualify to become a foster parent one must be at least 18 years of age, have a stable income, be able to provide adequate sleeping quarters, and allow DCF to complete a complete Background Record Check. In order to become a foster parent you have to attend MAPP (Massachusetts Approach to Partnership in Parenting) training which allows families to learn more about communication, how foster parenting will affect your family, as well as the skills that are needed to become a foster parent. They do not discriminate against the statuses of people. A person can be married, divorced, have a partner, widowed, etc. The typical stay of a foster child is 3-18 months. DCF promotes the value that children should be with their biological parents whenever possible. If it is impossible for the child to go back with their parents they will find a permanent home with a family or even take the route of adoption.
Another status that makes up DCF is the social workers. Their role is to meet with different families who have cases and check in with them routinely. They often make house visits to ensure that the child is properly being taken care of. Families often will ask for DCF to be involved with their family voluntarily. DCF can provide services like camps for children, day care vouchers, furniture for the house, and parenting training to better capabilities.
These statistics were taken directly from At a Glance statistics for Massachusetts:
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
Massachusetts had 70,362 total referrals for child abuse and neglect in
2009. Of those, 42,447 reports were referred for investigation.
In 2009, 23,935 children were substantiated or indicated as abused or
neglected in Massachusetts, a rate of 13.1 per 1,000 children, representing
a 13.8% increase from 2006. These children experience varied—
sometimes multiple—forms of maltreatment; 104% were neglected, 14%
were physically abused, and 2.8% were sexually abused.
In 2009, an unknown number of Massachusetts children died as a result
of abuse or neglect.
In 2009, 9,650 children in Massachusetts lived apart from their families in
out-of-home care, compared with 9,667 children in 2008. In 2009, 3,031
of the children living apart from their families were age 5 or younger, and
2,170 were 16 or older.
Of Massachusetts children in out-of-home care in 2009, 4,479 were
white, 1,590 black, 2,599 Hispanic, 13 American Indian/Alaskan Native,
and 449 of other races and ethnicities.
It is alarming to see the amount of children and families who are referred to DCF. More than half of the referrals to DCF were investigated!
The institution of DCF is a necessity in society. It ensures that children are not being abused or neglected. Without an institution like DCF parents could treat their children in whatever manner they would want. The livelihood of children would be at risk because there wouldn’t be an institution regulating proper care of these children. DCF creates stability in relationships with parents and children and gives parents the proper skills to take care of their children.
