Connecticut Department of Children and Families

Address: 505 Hudson Street
Hartford, CT 06106 Phone: (860) 550-6600 Email: commissioner.dcf@ct.gov Website: http://www.ct.gov/dcf/site/default.asp

Working together with families and communities to improve child safety, ensure that more children have permanent families, and advance the overall well-being of children is the central focus of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). DCF protects children who are being abused or neglected, strengthens families through support and advocacy, and builds on existing family and community strengths to help children who are facing emotional and behavioral challenges, including those committed to the Department by the juvenile justice system.
DCF, established under Section 17a-2 of the Connecticut General Statutes, is one of the nation’s few agencies to offer child protection, behavioral health, juvenile justice and prevention services. This comprehensive approach enables DCF to offer quality services regardless of how a child's problems arise. Whether children are abused and/or neglected, are involved in the juvenile justice system, or have emotional, mental health or substance abuse issues, the Department can respond to these children in a way that draws upon community and state resources to help.