The answer to that questions is no. There is a lot that DCF can consider doing; including, asking you to sign a Voluntary Placement Agreement, but the most typical situation is that DCF will ask for “Family Assessment” and that Family Assessment is used to determine whether or not the family needs services and working out a plan for services for the family.

The social worker who handles the investigation is usually assigned to something called an “Assessment Worker” who is supposed to have 45 days from the date of the support decision; although in reality, many times it takes significantly longer. At the end of that support decision then they complete the Assessment, which is a more in depth investigation. What can end up happening is that DCF can say that there are no services and the case should close, they can say many times that the end result is that there is a Service Plan and that there are services that need to be put in place.

During the assessment period, it is also a very important time to have good advice, again generally from an attorney; because what goes on during that assessment can be used against you later; or it can be helpful to you.