Not unless the child is emancipated. Till 18 they still have to investigate From: KidsCounsel ListServ [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Marcia Brubeck Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 9:18 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [KIDSCOUNSEL-L] DCF and abandonment question If a hospital calls DCF and reports that the child has been abandoned (the legal parent refuses to pick up the child at discharge), can DCF refuse to take custody on the ground that the child is seventeen and one-half years old? Marcia E. Brubeck, LCSW Hartford, CT www. MarciaBrubeck.com <http://www.marciabrubeck.com/>