If you disagree with a decision that DCF makes there are certain aspects that you can appeal through a fair hearing, which is not a court hearing but an administrative hearing with DCF. There are many types of decisions that you can appeal through a fair hearing, but the rules about which decisions can be appealed are complicated. You should make sure to read the regulations carefully at 110 CMR 10.06-10.07.
The decisions that DCF makes about a family after someone makes a report of abuse or neglect of a child (also called a 51A report) are the most frequent decisions that DCF reviews at a fair hearing. These decisions are the “support” and “substantiated concern” determinations.
Other decisions that DCF will review in a fair hearing if requested is the improper suspension, reduction, or termination of a service your family is receiving from DCF; if you are a biological parent, the change of a goal determination made at a Foster Care Review meeting; if you are seeking to become a foster or pre-adoptive parent: the Department’s denial of your application to become a foster or pre-adoptive parent; if you are a foster parent; the Department’s removal of a foster child from your home or the termination or non-renewal of your foster care license; if you are a pre-adoptive or adoptive parent, the denial of an application to become a pre-adoptive placement or the removal of a child from a pre-adoptive placement; if you are a young adult (ages 18-22) who was in the Department’s custody at the age of 18, the Department’s denial of your request for services, the listing of an individual’s name on the Department’s Registry of Alleged Perpetrators.