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Last updated on Thursday, March 19, 2015
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Wednesday, the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) released the results of an independent workload and caseload analysis of the agency by Deloitte Consulting.
The final report includes 10 strategic and tactical recommendations to improve outcomes for Hoosier children and families, including additional staff, improved organizational efficiencies, enhanced staff training and expanded use of data.
In 2013, DCS added 136 new Family Case Manager (FCM) positions and 75 FCM supervisor position. In 2014, DCS added another 110 FCM positions, bringing the total number of case manager positions to 1,711 by January 2015.
Despite the addition of these new positions, at the end of State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2014, DCS did not meet the 12/17 regional caseload average, as outlined in Indiana statute. In November, DCS presented plans to address the issue to the State Budget Committee, which included commissioning an analysis of the current workload of DCS family case managers and enhancing FCM supervisor training.
"We have no higher priority than the safety of our children and families and will do what is best for our kids," said Governor Pence. "I have directed the Department of Child Services to move immediately to add the necessary staff and have requested funding from the General Assembly for those positions."
Upon receiving Deloitte's report, DCS began working immediately to prioritize and implement the recommendations. Governor Pence requested an additional $7.5 million from the Indiana General Assembly to hire 100 additional family case managers and 17 new family case manager supervisors.
In addition to the recommendations, the analysis noted there were many interventions DCS has initiated and should continue to build upon to better serve children and families. Specifically, the report identified staff training, retention and the use of technology to improve processes within the agency.
A few DCS initiatives currently under way include:
To view the whole report visit www.in.gov/dcs.
"Our FCMs are on the front lines and in the trenches each day helping the thousands of children and families that come to us in crisis," said Director, Mary Beth Bonaventura. "It is my responsibility to make sure they have the resources they need to protect Hoosier children from abuse and neglect. The recommendations from this report validate some steps we have initiated to address this issue, as well as system enhancements to better protect Hoosier children from abuse and neglect."
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