What is Considered Child Abandonment in NJ
Determining Abandonment of a Child in a DCPP Proceeding in New Jersey The New Jersey Department of Child Protection and Permanency (formerly known as Department of Youth and Family Services, DYFS) is responsible for responding to allegations of child abuse and neglect, and ensuring that children are currently residing in, or placed into, a safe […]
read full articleLeast Restrictive Setting Rule in DCPP Cases in New Jersey
Least Restrictive Setting Rule to Secure The Child’s Best Interest in Placement When the New Jersey Department of Children and Protection and Permanency (DCPP) finds it necessary to step in with a family following an investigation, it indicates that the agency believes the family is somehow not functioning healthily and the children’s health and welfare […]
read full articleAbuse and Neglect in Single Parent Households
The statistics on children being abused and neglected by single parents do not paint a positive picture, and DCPP investigates these cases with astounding frequency in New Jersey. That being said, you are not a statistic. Your family is undoubtedly unique and you deserve to defend your parenting if child protective services is investigating you. […]
read full articleParental Mental Health Issues in DCFS Investigations
Is Mental Illness a Risk Factor for Child Abuse and Neglect in NJ? Recently, Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit organization, revealed that 16.4% of New Jersey adults suffered mental illness between 2018 and 2019. Since then, the pandemic increased those numbers for certain mental health conditions, namely anxiety and depression. When mental health issues dominate a […]
read full articleUnderstanding Termination of Parental Rights in New Jersey
When, Why, and How can Parental Rights be Terminated in NJ? Termination of Parental Rights or TPR means the legal action whereby a court severs all of a parent’s legal rights he or she has with their child. Parents have constitutionally protected rights that are both honored and protected under our laws. They have the […]
read full articleTypes of Reports in NJ Child Abuse Cases
As a person accused of child abuse or neglect in New Jersey, it is imperative that you understand all of types of reports that a litigant will typically encounter in a DCPP case and how to challenge the reports. For anyone that is not familiar with child welfare matters, a typical file can become quite […]
read full articlePrivacy in a DCPP Case
Confidentiality and its Limits if the Division of Child Protection and Permanency Opens a Case If the Division of Child Protection and Permanency receives a report concerning child abuse or neglect, the agency is legally mandated to open up an investigation. To that end, the Division will create and maintain a large number of documents […]
read full articleSiblings & Relatives in New Jersey DYFS Matters
Children, siblings, relatives, and any member of the household can play a very important role in DCP&P investigations. Like any inquiry or probe, what a person says can carry a great amount of weight and can determine the fate of how a case is decided. However, what can be most alarming about a DCP&P investigation […]
read full articleRight to Counsel in a DCF Case
Am I Entitled to a Lawyer when Facing DCFS in New Jersey? In New Jersey, any parent facing allegations of child abuse or neglect have a constitutional right to counsel under Article I, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey State Constitution. On top of that, our lawmakers also codified the right to counsel under both […]
read full articleSigns and Indicators of Abuse: What DCPP is Looking For in New Jersey
Wondering what Tells DYFS that a Child may be Abused or Neglected in NJ? Before we discuss what the Division of Child Protection and Permanency will be searching for when it is conducting an investigation, it is important to first understand what constitutes child abuse or neglect in New Jersey. In our State, child abuse […]
read full article