“What are they saying?”

• Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF or “The Department”): State agency responsible for safety and health of children, and to provide services and assistance for families. They include several departments, such as investigation into reports of child abuse and neglect, overseeing dependency, and facilitating adoptions.
• Dependency: Court process in which a child has been removed from the home and placed in the care of the State. Parents have been court ordered to complete services intended to assist the family in becoming a safe, healthy environment for all involved so that children may be returned home. If parents do not engage in those services and make progress, parental rights may be terminated.
• Dependency petition: The initial document filed with the court outlining the reasons for the child to be removed from the home and starting the process. May also be accompanied by a “pick up order” allowing for that removal. Child may also remain in home pursuant to an in-home dependency, which allows the department to oversee a home which needs intervention but does not have an imminent safety threat to children.
• Shelter Care: The initial hearing after a child is removed from the home, must be held within 72 hours (3 business days) of that removal, whether it is done by law enforcement or by the department. At this hearing, the court determines whether it was reasonable to remove the child from the home, and makes initial decisions about where the child will live (placement) and visitation with the parents. Also used to describe a case that has not yet agreed to dependency or otherwise been found dependent.
• Shelter Care Review: This is a hearing held 30 days after removal to check in on status of children and parents.
• Pretrial Management: Hearing held to determine if trial is going to proceed as scheduled.
• Fact Finding (also known as “trial”): Opportunity for the court to hear all evidence in the matter and make a decision as to whether dependency is appropriate. There is no jury in this matter, but witnesses and exhibits may be involved. If either parent does not appear for this matter, a default order will likely be entered as to that parent.
• Dependency Review/Permanency Planning: Hearings held every six months after dependency is established to review placement, visitation, and long term plan for the case. This is an opportunity for a parent or child to let the court know their progress on making their home safe and healthy for the child to return.
• Reunification/Return Home: If the parent(s) have completed all services and corrected parental deficiencies, a child may be returned to their home. After a return home, the Department remains involved and supporting the family with oversight and services for at least six months.
• Dismissal: Once a family has been reunified successfully, for the full time period, the case is dismissed and the Department no longer oversees the matter.
• Termination: If a family is unable to reunify, a Termination Petition is filed. Much like the Dependency Petition, it starts a process with the court. In the case of termination, the process is started which may ultimately result in the parents losing their parental rights and the child becoming available to adopt.
• Adoption/Guardianship: Both options result in permanent home for the child and dismissal of the dependency matter.