| JON S. CORZINE Governor |
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| For Immediate Release: | For More Information: |
| Date: March 06, 2009 | Robert Corrales Phone: 609-777-2600 |
"The last time I was at this conference in 2006, the Department of Children and Families had been created only a few months prior," said Governor Corzine. "We were taking our first steps in turning New Jersey's child welfare system around. Since then, the Department has focused its attention on the fundamentals of child welfare while achieving impressive results on behalf of some of our most vulnerable children."
In July 2006, Governor Corzine signed legislation creating the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the state's first Cabinet-level department devoted solely to child and family welfare. During that time, the Governor worked to reach a Modified Settlement Agreement (MSA) with Children's Rights, Inc., the plaintiffs in New Jersey's federal lawsuit to reform the child welfare system. As a result, the State was able to avert a near federal takeover of its child welfare system.
"There has been no greater leader for child welfare in New Jersey than Governor Corzine," said Department of Children and Families Commissioner Kimberly S. Ricketts. "Our Governor has shown an unprecedented and unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our children and families and has allowed New Jersey to receive national recognition for its ongoing and successful child welfare reform efforts."
From 2006 through 2008, DCF focused on the fundamentals of reform, such as reducing caseloads; increasing the number of licensed, available foster and adoptive families; and eliminating the backlog of legally free children waiting to be adopted. During the last three years, the Department has made considerable strides:
* It has finalized over 4,200 adoptions over the calendar years 2006, 2007 and 2008 - including nearly 1,400 last year;
* DCF has recruited and licensed over 5,200 new foster and adoptive families in the last three years - a total net gain of more than 1,800 stable, safe and loving homes for foster children;
* The Department has reduced caseworker caseloads. In March 2006, over 100 caseworkers had caseloads of more than 30 families. Over the past year, no caseworker had more than 30 families to serve;
* By the end of 2008, there was a 70 percent decrease in out-of-state- placements. In fact, only 98 children were placed out-of-state to receive behavioral health services, down drastically from 327 in March 2006, and from 229 in January 2008.
* Substantial gains have also been made in providing children in foster care with comprehensive medical examinations within 60 days of entry into care. In October 2008, approximately 80 percent of children entering care received comprehensive exams within that 60 day timeframe.
* DCF has continued to execute its ambitious undertaking to train, coach, and mentor the entire DYFS workforce around the Department's new case practice model, which changes the manner in which DYFS works with families and protects children to promote better outcomes.
"I have visited local DYFS offices throughout the state and met with many caseworkers, so I recognize how challenging their jobs can be," Governor Corzine said. "But I also have seen their unwavering commitment and dedication. It is that commitment that will help us meet 21st century challenges while continuing to improve the lives of children and families who enter the DCF system."
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Photos from Governor Corzine's public events are available in the Governor's Newsroom section on the State of New Jersey web page, http://www.nj.gov/governor/news/
