Examining Why Foster Children Might Resort to Running Away
Some children end up running away from their DCF foster homes for a variety of reasons. DCF’s goal regarding foster children is to provide a safe, nurturing, and supportive placement. Unfortunately, this objective is not always met. When children run away from their foster homes and go missing, there are minimal services to help correct the situation. If you find yourself facing issues with DCF, you might need to consider how to fight against DCF.
According to Boston 25 News, a nationwide investigation scrutinized how DCF handles missing and absent children, or children who end up running away. DCF faced backlash after the investigation revealed that “child welfare workers across the country had kicked thousands of missing foster care children out of the system.” This investigation sparked a demand for change within the system concerning missing and or absent children. This nationwide investigation lasted approximately a year.
Boston 25 News reported that the Massachusetts DCF has taken significant steps in the fight against DCF parental alienation by implementing the “Missing and Absent Pilot Program” for children who run away while in DCF custody. This program has been successful at targeting high-risk children and intervening before they run away.
According to Boston 25 News, “the agency said that since July 2018 there have been 38% fewer missing kids,” due to the implementation of the new program. State data acquired under public records request shows that “in July 2018 there were 167 missing or absent foster kids compared to 103 of April (2019).”
New approaches like this program need to be continually looked into and implemented. There are minimal funds for finding missing foster children within DCF. According to the DCF budget analysis, the Governor recommends “the addition of $150,000, including $121,500 from the States General Fund… to hire a protective investigator to assist with locating missing foster children.”
If you find yourself in this situation, it’s advisable to seek legal representation from a qualified attorney, like those at the Law Office of Kevin Seaver, who can advocate for your rights and guide you through the complex process of a DCF investigation.
Remember that the ultimate goal of DCF is to ensure the safety and well-being of children while supporting families in crisis.
Please note that this article does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between our law firm and the reader and is provided for informational purposes only. Information in this article does not apply to all readers.
Readers should not rely on this information as legal advice and should seek specific counsel from the attorney based on personal circumstances. Thank you.
Kevin Patrick Seaver is a Massachusetts DCF Defense Lawyer who represents parents against false child abuse allegations.
