The court s interpretation and application of the CINA statute has essentially driven casework practices. DFYS staff training efforts have suffered from lack of coordination, consistency, and funding Case carrying social workers also expressed concern regarding the need for training specific to their job. It is critical for investigators to receive training relevant to there jobs as they are required to determine whether children should remain in or be removed from their homes, and often must justify, in court, their decision to remove the child. The new law clarifies that the health and safety of children served by child welfare agencies must be of paramount concern and aims to move children in foster care more quickly into permanent homes. Such federal requirements may require state s adopt the practice of concurrent planning.
Concurrent planning allows two plans to be in place at the same time.
This will require the social worker devise a permanency plan for an abused or neglected child. The legislature should consider authorizing and funding additional social worker positions in order for the Division of Family and Youth Services within the Department of Health and Social Services to better meet the agency s statutory mandates . If the legislature appropriates additional funding for child protection services for FY 99, the commissioner of DHSS should report the effects of those increases to the legislature . The legislature should consider amending relevant child protection statutes in order to provide a basis for better and more consistent casework . The director of DFYS should develop and implement a clear and consistent policy regarding when reports of harm can be left uninvestigated .