HELENA – The new head of the Montana Division of Child and Family Services says the troubled agency needs to reduce the number of children in foster care while making smart hires and providing more training for its caseworkers.
Maurita Johnson spoke in a recent interview with The Associated Press about a month after taking the job in November. She takes over after a governor-appointed panel found the state’s child protection system in crisis.
The agency has experienced high staff turnover as its caseload sees enormous growth. Critics have accused the agency of failing to remove children from dangerous situations and failing to communicate with families.
Johnson says she plans to address the issues raised by Gov. Steve Bullock’s Protect Montana Kids Commission. The panel recommended that caseworkers need more training, supervision and updated technology.