Anyone who grew up in Somerville can tell stories of street hockey and meeting up with friends outside. But kids today have less freedom than ever before, and there are real costs to them and their families. Parents have reasons for closely supervising their children, and one of them is the high consequence of being suspected of child neglect. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the Massachusetts state agency for keeping children safe from abuse and neglect. This event will host an Intake Supervisor from DCF to explore the difference between a neglected child and an empowered independent child. We will consider the following questions:

1) What is the screening process for reports of neglect?

2) How is neglect determined?

3) How can parents encourage their children's independence in a way that won't raise red flags for DCF?

4) How does intake consider factors of bias, especially for people of color and low-income families?

5) (and more)

Co-sponsored by the Somerville Commission for Women