Care and Protection Cases

Date:
Author:
Children's Law Center of Massachusetts

Fact sheet prepared by the Children's Law Center of Massachusetts.  From the introduction:

"A Care and Protection (C&P) case is a court proceeding in which someone, usually the Depart- ment of Children and Families (DCF), files a peti- tion stating that a child is at risk of serious abuse or neglect by a caretaker, usually a parent or guardian. The petitioner, usually DCF, generally asks the court for custody of that child."

Also discusses 51A reports.