Hello, we’re Kathey and Rob Raskin of Las Vegas and studies throughout Arkansas are showing that there are far too many foster kids under the care of a single DCFS agent. Despite new improvements in Arkansas’s burdened foster care system, the state DCFS is struggling to minimize the average caseload of its field staff, as reported by DCFS monthly data.
A consequence of high caseloads is some foster children have little direct contact with their child welfare agent who would be responsible for their care. In the 2017 fiscal year, 28% of foster children didn’t get any face-to-face monthly time from their caseworker. Additionally, 13% of foster children didn’t get any monthly face-to-face contact from any DCFS staff, regardless of position or visit purposes. That’s a huge increase since 2014, when it was 4%. During that same time, the number of children in the system expanded from about 4,100 to roughly 5,100.
On Dec. 6, the face-to-face visit metrics were the focus of questions from state lawmakers following DCFS Director Mischa Martin presentation of the agency’s 2017 yearly report to the Joint Committee on Aging, Children and Youth.
“If someone is missed in one month, are they put in the front of the line for the next month — so that maybe in a two-month period, everyone gets visited?” asked Rep. Carlton Wing (R-North Little Rock).
“I wish I could say, ‘Absolutely, yes,’ but we started pulling data back in the spring … we saw kids on the list who hadn’t been looked at in 60 or 90 days,” Martin answered. The DCFS now makes local offices prioritize these cases. She said, “If you didn’t see them this month, you have to make it a priority to see them.”
Martin took over the DCFS last year, when the state foster care population was hitting record levels. She has tried to execute several reforms which could improve placement options and preserving staff.
Sen. Stephanie Flowers (D-Pine Bluff), who co-chairs the Children and Youth committee, asked whether the DCFS was failing to follow code by not seeing children face-to-face each month. Unfortunately, Martin said it was not a legal requirement however that federal funds are tied to compliance. Obviously, something needs to be done in Arkansas. Foster kids are at greater risks when someone isn’t checking on them personally each month. That’s when we see abuse and neglect skyrocket.
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