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Commission: State Child Protection Agency Needs More Funding

More funding would allow agency to hire more caseworkers to reduce caseloads and hopefully the stress of the job

By Amy Beth Hanson, Associated Press
Child and Family Services in Kalispell on Sept. 21, 2015. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

HELENA – The state Division of Child and Family Services needs increased funding to hire more caseworkers to reduce caseloads and hopefully the stress of the job, allowing the agency to retain more workers tasked with responding to child abuse and neglect cases, a commission appointed to review the agency said.

The Protect Montana Kids Commission worked Monday on its final recommendations with regard to the agency’s workforce and work culture.

The commission also recommended improving worker and supervisor training and adding incentives to attract new employees, such as student loan assistance for recent college graduates who agree to work for the agency for a minimum period of time. The agency has suggested creating a career ladder as a way for more experienced child protection workers to move up the pay scale without having to become supervisors.

Gov. Steve Bullock created the commission last fall in response to concerns from family members who complained they were disrespected by caseworkers, the agency ignored the recommendations of some counselors and workers seemed to lack training. A legislative audit later found the agency didn’t always adequately document cases or close cases within federal timelines.

Outgoing division administrator Sarah Corbally argued the agency’s caseload was increasing, mostly due to parental drug use, and the agency didn’t have enough employees to handle the caseload and required paperwork. She also renewed her complaint that the agency’s computer system was outdated.

The commission seemed to have come to the same conclusions, although it also found some issues with the agency’s work culture. Commission members recommended better communication within the agency and with the public, along with assessing the workplace culture to address the concerns of some workers who report they fear retaliation if they make mistakes. Others have complained that supervisors micro-manage their cases.

The commission also urged the DCFS workers to collaborate better with other people involved in child abuse cases, such as attorneys and Court Appointed Special Advocates.

Bob Runkel, manager of the health department’s Economic Services Branch, said the agency’s new administrator will have a direct line of supervision over the regional administrator, and the agency plans to hire a new position of deputy administrator, has hired a human resources specialist to help bring in new employees and is upgrading their computer system. The agency recently hired a manager who will oversee investigations into any critical incidents to determine how the system might have contributed to what happened, Runkel said.

Runkel said he hopes improvements will allow the agency to fill all of its vacancies and eventually be able to hire caseworkers in anticipation of turnover at some of the larger offices.

Commission member and former DCFS administrator Chuck Hunter said there should be a covenant between the legislature and the administration regarding funding for child and family services.

“There has never been a shortage of good ideas,” Hunter said. “The fundamental problem always remains: If you don’t have enough people to do the basic work, all the recommended improvements get pushed to the side.”