Department of Human Services

FURTHER INFORMATION:

September 23, 2004
Ed Rogan
Ellen Lovejoy
(609) 292-3703

Commissioner gives update on child welfare reform

‘Better isn't good enough'

TRENTON – Many improvements have been made to the state's longtime broken child welfare system in the two months since the state's sweeping and historic reform plan was finalized, Commissioner James Davy told the Assembly Budget Committee today.

Efforts to reduce DYFS workers' caseloads have been fast-tracked and much progress is being made throughout the system, but there is still much more to do to achieve true systemic reform, he said.

“Things are beginning to get better,” Commissioner Davy said. “But better isn't good enough for abused and neglected children. Everyone involved every day must continue to give them our best. I refuse to make excuses for a system that fails even one vulnerable child.”

Changes to the $125 million reform plan approved by the Legislature were made to expedite the expansion of licensing staff and the number of workers assigned to close cases safely, as well as to accommodate the closing of the Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center , Commissioner Davy noted. Those accelerated hirings necessitated pushing back other hiring timelines, he acknowledged.

But willingness to adapt during this process is essential, the Commissioner said.

“This is a fluid and evolving process,” Commissioner Davy said. “We have to continually hold a mirror up to ourselves and face what we see.”

“If I find something is working well, I'm going to encourage and expand it,” he said. “Nothing – except the end goal of child safety, is etched in stone,” the Commissioner said.

Commissioner Davy told the committee he welcomes its review and would like to testify in front of it every three months to discuss the progress. He said he also will provide the committee with quarterly written updates.

“Only the intense scrutiny demanded by this reform plan will reveal details of all of the things we must fix,” Commissioner Davy said. “When I first came to the Department of Human Services, I pledged that we would be open and accountable, and I meant that to apply not only to the public and the families we serve, but to the Legislature as well.”