Massachusetts Department of Children & Families

factsheet
DCF Core Values
Child-Driven
Family Centered
Strength-Based
Community Connected
Committed to Cultural
competence and
Diversity
Committed to
Continuous
Learning and Quality
Improvement
DCF Priorities
Safely stabilizing and
preserving families
Safely reunifying
families;
Safely
creating new families

A New Approach to Working with Families
The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF), is the state agency
responsible for protecting children from abuse and neglect. DCF assesses families’
strengths and needs, and works to obtain appropriate services and resources for their needs.
Driven by new research on best practices in child welfare, and in response to sweeping
new state and federal legislative mandates, DCF is currently in the process of implementing
a new, strength-based approach to working with families: the “Integrated Casework Practice
Model.”
The Integrated Casework Practice Model is designed to:
Stabilize families so that children can safely remain at home;
Reduce repeat maltreatment of children; and
Effectively target DCF resources to meet the needs of families requiring DCF services.

What is DCF’s Integrated Casework Practice Model?
The DCF Integrated Casework Practice Model (ICPM) establishes the framework, structures
and processes, expected outcomes, and underlying core values for DCF’s involvement with
children and families. Through the ICPM, DCF’s involvement with children and families
focuses on families’ strengths, and seeks to build parenting capacities that will support safe,
secure, and permanent homes. The new approach also ensures consistency in casework
practice and provides opportunities for children, families and their support systems to be
actively engaged and empowered in decision-making.
Key features of the casework practice model include:
Extended timeframes for screening and investigations to allow greater opportunity
to gather information about a family’s circumstances and determine how best to target
DCF resources;
Differential Response to enable DCF to respond to allegations of child abuse and/or
neglect based on the unique circumstances of a case and the individual needs/strengths
of a family. This includes two tracks: Investigation or Assessment, depending on the
severity of the allegation.
Use of new research based assessment and planning tools to support consistent
clinical practice in assessing danger, safety and risk; and to focus on what families need
to keep children safe; and
Connections to supports and resources within the child and family’s own
community first.

What does the ICPM mean for Mandated Reporters?
No change has been made to the requirements for mandated reporters. Mandated reporters
continue to be required to contact and work with DCF when they have concerns that a child
has been abused or neglected. Through the new model, DCF expects that the safety of
children will be improved as the Department, families, mandated reporters and the community
work in collaboration to protect children and to strengthen families. DCF continues to be
committed to ensuring timely and ongoing communication with collaterals, including mandated
reporters. For more information on reporting child abuse and/or neglect, please visit:
www.mass.gov/dcf.
October 2009

 fact sheet

What Happens When DCF Receives a
Report of Child Abuse and/or Neglect?
DCF may receive a report of abuse and/or neglect, called a “51A report,” from a “mandated
reporter” or another concerned citizen involved in the child/family’s life. Under DCF’s new
model, a report of abuse and/or neglect may be handled in one of several ways, depending on
the allegations and other case-specific circumstances.

Here are the steps in the process:

“DCF’s new approach
involves engaging
families in an equitable
and family-friendly
manner. The nature of
this practice improves
the relationship
between families and
DCF because it is what
we both want and what
needs to happen.”
Lori Fortin, Former
Consumer and
Current Member, DCF
Family Advisory
Committee

For more information
or to report a suspected
case of Abuse and/or
Neglect, visit:

www.mass.gov/dcf
for general information
or to find a DCF Area
Office
Child-At-Risk-Hotline:
1-800-792-5200
DCF OMBUDSMAN:
617-748-2444,
9 am – 5 pm, weekdays
for inquiries about
agency programs,
policies or service
delivery.

1. The report is screened. The purpose of screening is to determine if the allegation meets
DCF’s criteria for suspected abuse and/or neglect, if there is immediate danger to the child and
whether DCF involvement is necessary. During screening, which begins immediately, DCF
obtains information from the person filing the report and also contacts professionals involved
with the family (e.g., doctors, teachers). DCF may also contact the family if appropriate. A
report may be “screened-out” if it does not meet the criteria for a reportable concern or the
definition of a caretaker. Families may also be referred for appropriate community services as
needed.
2. If the report is “screened-in,” it is assigned either for a Child Protective

Services (CPS) Investigation or Assessment Response:
•

CPS Investigation Response: Generally, cases of sexual or serious physical abuse, or
severe neglect will be assigned to the CPS Investigation Response. The severity of the
situation will dictate whether it requires an emergency or non-emergency investigation.
The primary purpose of the Investigation Response is to determine the safety of the
reported child, the validity of an allegation and person(s) responsible, whether continued
DCF intervention is necessary and to assess risk to the child.

•

CPS Assessment Response (Initial Assessment): Generally, moderate or lower risk
allegations, are assigned to the CPS Assessment Response. The primary purpose of the
Assessment Response is to determine if DCF involvement is necessary and to engage and
support families. This response involves a review of the reported allegations, assessing
safety and risk of the child, identifying family strengths and determining what, if any,
supports and services are needed.

3. A determination is made as to whether the child can safely remain at home and whether
the family would benefit from continued DCF involvement. If DCF involvement continues, a
Comprehensive Assessment and Service Plan are developed with the family.
Some families come to the attention of the Department outside the 51A process. These cases
are generally referred directly for a Comprehensive Assessment and include: Child in Need of
Services (CHINS) cases referred by the Juvenile Court, cases referred by the Probate Court,
babies surrendered under the Safe Haven Act, and voluntary requests for services by a
parent/family.

Does DCF have the same legal authority and responsibility
under the new Model?
No change has been made to DCF’s legal authority. DCF continues to have the same authority,
provided through Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Chapter 119, Section 51B, to gather
information from collaterals, mandated reporters and others whether a case has been assigned
for an Investigation or Assessment Response. For more information, please visit:
www.mass.gov/dcf and click on ‘Regulations and Policies.’
****

“We are following well established state and national trends in moving away from a one size fits all
approach to child welfare. Our new model allows us to focus on the unique needs and strengths of each
family, while targeting our resources in the most effective way to keep kids safe and families together.”
Angelo McClain, Commissioner
October 2009