It varies quite a bit from state to state and experience to experience. I work with DCF in Mass and have worked at DCYF in Rhode Island. In Mass. DCF can be very helpful in terms of providing additional services and case management that most insurances don't cover. For extreme cases, they can coordinate and fund alternate placements. We have so many families who come to us knowing the benefits. But in RI, they only got involved when the child needed to be removed or close to being removed and had so little funding availible that they aren't able to provide must in terms of services. They have a much different image in RI. So it's really hard to say. You can always call to talk to someone there (ie intake) and just ask about what they can offer you. It's really a coin toss.