DFCS has established an Administrative Review process in which the substantiated caretaker can appeal any abuse and/or neglect decision from March 20, 1998, to the present. This process includes two newly implemented review levels.
The Administrative Review occurs on three levels:
- Level One:
- Conducted by the DFCS Regional offices via a desk review.
- If the Regional office disagrees with the original decision, the requestor will receive notification that the case decision will be changed.
- If the original case determination is upheld, the notification letter will include the Regional office’s findings.
- Level Two:
- If the requestor would like a second-level review, the second-level is conducted by an Administrative Review Officer (ARO) who is external to DFCS.
- The requestor will be given the option of having a Desk Review or a Face-to-Face review.
- The ARO will issue a recommendation to either uphold or to overturn the case decision.
- Level Three:
- The Commissioner of the Department of Human Services or his or her designee will then review the recommendation and render a final written decision.
- The Commissioner’s final written decision is the final.
If you require any additional information about the Administrative Review appeal process, please contact your local DFCS office.