Caseworkers 'overwhelmed' More than 100 statewide assigned too much work

Caseworkers 'overwhelmed' More than 100 statewide assigned too much
work
By CRAIG SCHNEIDER The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The DeKalb County child protection worker who handled the case in
which a 4-year-old girl was killed this week is among over 100
caseworkers statewide carrying too many cases, officials said.
"They are overwhelmed," said Janet Oliva, director of the state
Division of Family and Children Services. "They are scared of making a
mistake. And eventually they give up."
The caseworker was juggling some 70 cases when she received the first
complaint concerning Rita Moody in October. She visited the home a few
times, but never made contact with the family, officials said.
This week, Rita's mother, Demetre Evans, 28, and her female roommate,
Oshadotaive Yseikieyui Robertson, 27, were charged with murder in the
girl's death.
Over the past few days, Oliva implemented a computer program that
flags any caseworker across the state with more than 30 cases. On
Thursday, Oliva said the program had identified about 100 workers
whose caseload exceeded 30.
Among them is a Cherokee County worker with 102 cases, a Paulding
worker with 86, and a Muscogee worker with 77. The state has a total
of about 1,500 caseworkers who handle child protection investigations.
"Now I'll know which caseworkers are in distress," Oliva said. "We're
all accountable."
Child protection officials had received two complaints, in October and
December, saying Rita had witnessed domestic violence in the house.
The girl was not injured in the incidents, which involved fights
between her mother and her mother's roommate.
The caseworker had asked her supervisor for help with her workload.
"This caseworker cried out for help, and we didn't help her fast
enough," Oliva said. The responsibility "goes all the way up to me."
Oliva said the DFCS investigation into the handling of the case should
conclude in about a week. Preliminary indications show that the
caseworker made at least two attempts to visit the family, but that
she was overwhelmed by an abundance of cases.
Oliva said this case reveals that problems remain in the DeKalb DFCS
office, which had received an infusion of 13 state monitors and
supervisors following the death of another child, 2-year-old Kyshawn
Punter, last summer.
But DeKalb's troubles continued as dissatisfied workers left the
office, creating a high number of vacancies and increasing the
workload for those remaining. That left few options to help the
struggling caseworker, Oliva said. Supervisors had been trying to
shift some of her cases to other workers, Oliva said.
Oliva noted that half of the experienced caseworkers in DeKalb had
over 40 cases when the first referral arrived regarding Rita.
The state's goal is that no caseworker have over 25 cases, and
national child welfare groups put the number closer to 15.
Oliva said she will shift several caseworkers and supervisors to
DeKalb in the next few days.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/0104/30dfcs.html
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Only about 8% of cw caseloads exceed 30.

In the case of those with LARGE LOADS, IT seems that they are not closing old
cases.

Can't the supervisors help? They were supposed to be helping to close cases.

Didn't FL hire also?

Didn't FL SPEND 45 million to implement their Child abuse database?

Gee.... A GOOD HS STUDENT COULD WRITE SOME CODE to identify those cw's with
over 30 cases.

Preliminary indications show that the
caseworker made at least two attempts to visit the family, but that
she was overwhelmed by an abundance of cases.

Don't they have evening workers who could fill in to visit at more family
friendly hours?

INEXCUSABLE, BAD, STUPID MANAGMENT.

A kid who knew business practices could overhaul DCF.







But DeKalb's troubles continued as dissatisfied workers left the
office, creating a high number of vacancies and increasing the

Probably the infusion of workers cut back on staff's OVERTIME.

problems remain in the DeKalb DFCS
office, which had received an infusion of 13 state monitors and
supervisors following the death of another child, 2-year-old Kyshawn
Punter, last summer.


No OVERTIME FOR CURRENT WORKERS.

So they protested. They counted on that OT.

My God, this managment issue is a red herring. No supervisors could be that
stupid.

DESCRIPTORS; DCF, CPS, FLORIDA