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State's Child Protection Agency Struggling to Address Case Backlog

Despite a push from all sides, New Hampshire’s child protection agency is still struggling to correct staffing issues and case backlogs.

The state’s Division for Children, Youth and Families is overdue on nearly 3,000 open abuse and neglect investigations. And according to media reports, DCYF presented disappointing progress to lawmakers Wednesday.

Weeks ago, the agency announced a plan to invest in overtime for staff – an attempt to address the growing backlog of cases. That initiative has yet to start. In the meantime, turnover is high, and many case worker positions remain unfilled.

DCYF is currently under an interim director. The state is still in the process of securing permanent leadership for the agency.

Hannah McCarthy first came to NHPR an intern in 2015, returned as a Fellow the following year and then bounced around as a reporter and producer before landing as co-host of Civics 101. She has reported on everything from the opioid epidemic to State House politics to haunted woods of New Hampshire.
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