From October '07 to May '08, they received an average of 17,000 calls per month, an 8.4% increase over the same time period the year before.  DCF spokesman John Harrell says it presents a challenge for their staff.

"We have to think about ways that we're responding properly to the calls for children who need the most assistance," said Harrell.  He says they're reviewing how to handle the rapid rise in calls and cases.  One possibility: referring non-urgent cases to prevention services instead of DCF investigators.