The New Hampshire Division for Children Youth and Families advisory board is putting its weight behind a proposal to add dozens of new positions at the agency.
High caseloads have long plagued the state agency that investigates allegations of child abuse and neglect. Right now the average caseworker at DCYF is juggling 45 cases at once, while the nationally recommended average is 12.
As state lawmakers and the governor debate the state budget, a handful of proposals have been put forward to address the staffing shortage.
On Monday, the DCYF advisory board voted unanimously to back a measure introduced by Senate Democrats that would add 77 new caseworkers and supervisors over the next two years.
According to DCYF Director Joe Ribsam, even that won't get caseloads down to the nationally recommended averages.
