Speedy DFCS change a wise move

Speedy DFCS change a wise move

When Janet Oliva became director of the state Division of Family and
Children Services last November, the agency was in turmoil. Human
Resources Commissioner Jim Martin and DFCS head Juanita Blount-Clark
had been ousted. The caseloads for DFCS workers was well above
acceptable limits, and turnover of experienced caseworkers was
astronomical, approaching 100 percent. Children were being returned to
abusive homes and in many DFCS offices the record keeping was shoddy;
caseworkers had little supervision. Children were dying.

Two high-profile deaths led to the change at the top of DHR and DFCS.
Kyshawn Punter and Caleb Freire died while their care was supposed to
be monitored by DFCS caseworkers.

Friday, Oliva was relieved of her position by her boss, state
Department of Human Resources Commissioner B.J. Walker, who's only
been on the job since May. Oliva will become Walker's special
assistant, not unlike the position she originally accepted at DFCS.
Oliva's experience was that of a GBI narcotics agent who led the
agency's child abuse investigations unit, not that of a person steeped
in the nuances of social work and child welfare.

The agency still faces many of the same problems it had when Oliva
arrived. And, of course, she wanted to try some things that were
probably better suited for law enforcement action than for an agency
that has to look after the welfare of thousands of children. She
wanted to fingerprint and do criminal background checks of adults in
homes where child abuse was suspected, and caseworkers were expected
to open investigations whenever a person of authority contacted the
agency about a potential case of child abuse.

Taking those instances into account, there are several areas where
Oliva did excel. Last October, she ordered all of the state's 1,300
caseworkers and 200 supervisors retrained, and the agency moved
quickly to take over or monitor troubled DFCS offices in DeKalb,
Gwinnett, Douglas, Muscogee and Paulding counties.

There are some people who are suited for a crisis period, and Oliva
fit that bill. It's unfortunate that she doesn't have the skill set
necessary to lead the agency. However, the skills she does possess
remain vital to the agency's operation. It is fortunate Commissioner
Walker recognized quickly the direction he needed to take the agency,
based on the better foundation Oliva help to construct.
http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/opinion/9538423.htm
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