Child Welfare Legal Services

The Office of the State Attorney, Sixth Judicial Circuit provides legal services on behalf of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in order to protect children in Pasco and Pinellas Counties who have been abused, abandoned and/or neglected by their parents.

As part of the contract with DCF, Assistant State Attorneys working in the Child Welfare Legal Services divisions in each office provide all legal services performed on behalf of the State of Florida in all Juvenile dependency and termination of parental rights proceedings governed by Chapter 39, F.S., the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure, Section 409.1451, F.S. governing Independent Living matters for children under eighteen (18) or otherwise properly heard in dependency court as well as all proceedings pursuant to the Florida Rules of appellate Procedure including but not limited to: shelter hearings, mediation, adjudicatory hearings, motions pertaining to care, placement, medication, modification of placements, protective supervision, foster care, case planning, judicial reviews, termination of parental rights and appeals of cases brought pursuant to Chapter 39, F.S.

If you suspect a child is abused or neglected, the Abuse Hotline number is 1-800-96-ABUSE.