Gov. Mike Pence announced Thursday that the state would authorize the hiring of 113 additional caseworkers following a 26 percent increase in cases this year.
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In July, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit maintaining that DCS workers are taking on too many caseloads and are unable to perform their jobs adequately.
Pence says most of those workers have been hired and the second group of additional staffers will cost around $7 million more.
Pence said the caseload is 26 percent higher than this time last year, partly due to the heroin epidemic.
“Even though case managers are supposed to have no more than 17 children on their caseloads, I have talked to case managers who are in the 40s”. “Think about it: if we hadn’t had that 26-percent increase, we would be in compliance”. DCS Director Mary Beth Bonaventura said children are best served when the agency is fully staffed and there is consistent case management. They have not been able to meet the standards required by Indiana law.
The announcement comes in the wake of a lawsuit accusing the state of failing to follow its own statutory caseload standards.
Gov. Mike Pence’s Indiana Department of Administration wants the money because officials say they’re anxious about security issues regarding six doors that let government employees enter and exit the statehouse.
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State Sen. Luke Kenley (R-Noblesville), a member of the budget committee, told our newsgathering partners at the Indianapolis Star he has some questions about the proposal, concerned it could make it more hard for Hoosiers to easily access the Statehouse. The final report included 10 strategic and tactical recommendations to improve outcomes for Hoosier children and families, including additional staff.
