Understanding the Stages of a DCFS Case

A child welfare case generally moves through recognizable stages: initial contact or investigation, a safety determination, possible temporary custody, adjudication, disposition, and ongoing service and permanency review. At each stage you have the right to: 1. Be told what is happening and why, in language you understand. 2. Keep copies of every notice, order, and service plan. 3. Ask who the decision-makers are — your caseworker, the Guardian ad Litem, and the judge. 4. Prepare questions in advance and bring an organized timeline. Keeping a factual, dated timeline of every contact and event is one of the most powerful things you can do for your case.