It seems like such an important thing to get done . . . As proposed, the system would merge databases from county children's services, welfare and child support departments statewide. A caseworker investigating an allegation of child abuse or neglect would be able to get more information about the family and its history with social service agencies than is readily available now, said Dan Schneider, director of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio, which represents county children's services agencies. Schneider added that the combined databases would be available 24 hours a day for the first time. The association of children's service agencies wants Gov. Bob Taft and lawmakers to make completing the computer network a top priority.
Child protection needs to be as important as work programs.
And that's what we'll push for as part of the merger. The state legislature ordered Human Services to have the system operating by midyear, but the state does not expect to hire a contractor until August. Installation is projected to take 31 months, making the completion date sometime in 2002. The state will pay the rest. The state also is paying another penalty for failing to install the system.