The Division of Children, Youth, and Families has made ?slow but valiant efforts? in its ability to improve services to 25 thousand children and families in New Hampshire. That?s the third and final report from an oversight panel created four years ago to help settle a class action suit against DCYF. But time is running out for the embattled state agency -- which the oversight panel finds deficient in several important aspects of the settlement agreement. NHPR?s Doug MacPherson reports.
THE OVERSIGHT PANEL REPORTS THAT AS OF LAST SUMMER, D-C-Y-F HAD NOT MET THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN SEVERAL KEY AREAS: TRACKING CHILDREN PLACED IN FOSTER HOMES, PROVIDING ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN WITH ADEQUATE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND FINDING ALTERNATIVE HOMES FOR CHILDREN WHO CANNOT RETURN TO THEIR FAMILIES. ONE OF THE THREE PANEL MEMBERS IS CHRISTINA CROWE ? A LICENCED SOCIAL WORKER WITH 30-YEARS EXPERIENCE. CROWE AKNOWLEDGES THAT D-C-Y-F HAS MADE IMPROVEMENTS EVEN SINCE LAST SUMMER. BUT SHE DOUBTS THE AGENCY CAN MEET THE COURT ORDERED DEADLINE OF THIS SEPTEMBER.
TAPE CROWE there are so many areas in which sufficient change has not occurred that I suspect it will be nearly impossible for them to demonstrate full compliance with the agreement. :14
CROWE SAYS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF DEFICIENCY IS IN THE AGENCY?S ABILITY TO ASSESS REPORTS OF SUSPECTED ABUSE OR NEGLECT.
TAPE CROWE If you don?t get in there and quickly figure it out and move to an improved situation, that child is going to be damaged in some way. Some children actually die. :11
THE AVERAGE CASE LOAD FOR D-C-Y-F SOCIAL WORKERS ASSIGNED TO COMPLETE ASSESSMENTS IS BETWEEN 25 AND THIRTY. CROWE CALLS THAT ?OUTRAGEOUS? ? SHE SAYS IT SHOULD BE MORE LIKE TWELVE.
TAPE CROWE this agency really tries. I think they are overwhelmed, overburdened, and it?s really hard for them to get out from under without support from the community at large and the legislature. :14
CROWE SAYS ITS UP TO NEW HAMPSHIRE CITIZENS TO DEMAND IMPROVEMENT. THE AGENCY HAS ASKED FOR MORE RESOURCES. LAST YEAR, IT REQUESTED ONE-HUNDRED NEW WORKERS. GOVERNOR JEANNE SHAHEEN CUT THAT TO 30 IN HER STATE BUDGET ? LAWMAKERS SLASHED IT TO NOTHING. D-C-Y-F DIRECTOR NANCY ROLLINS SAYS STUDIES SHOW THE STATE MAY WELL END UP PAYING SEVERAL TIMES OVER FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN WHO WIND UP HOMELESS OR IN JAIL, OR WHO GROW UP TO ABUSE THEIR OWN CHILDREN. SHE SAYS THE AGENCY HAS SHOWN STEADY IMPROVEMENT OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS ? SHE CITES A NEW STRUCTURED DECISION MAKING PROCESS DESIGNED TO STREAMLINE CASES, AND A NEW FOSTER CARE HEALTH PROGRAM. BUT ROLLINS AGREES WITH CROWE?S ASSESSMENT THAT THE AGENCY IS OVERWHELMED AND OVERBURDENED.
TAPE ROLLINS 2110 without the kind of staffing that we need to do our job, we?re frequently challenged by a multitude of crisisis. We?re frequently challenged by not being able to always be as strategic as we?d like in making changes to programs.
TAPE MACPHERSON: it sounds like you?re fire fighting.
TAPE ROLLINS We are fire fighting, much of the time.
ROLLINS DOUBTS HER AGENCY CAN COMPLY WITH ALL AREAS OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BY THE SEPTEMBER DEADLINE. IT?S NOT CLEAR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN THEN ? THE NEXT MOVE WOULD BE UP TO THE PLAINTIFFS. MEANWHILE, RESPONDING TO THE REPORT, A SPOKESPERSON FOR GOVERNOR SHAHEEN SAYS ? QUOTE ?
?Obviously it?s an issue of resources, but the agency is continuing to move forward. There has been great progress made.? FOR N-H-P-R NEWS, I?M DOUG MACPHERSON.
