AFSCME child protection workers work to protect Minnesota's children in hopes ... However, child protection workers in M
AFSCME Legislative Agenda 2018 Protecting Children Help Counties Hire, Train, and Retain Child Protection Workers AFSCME child protection workers work to protect Minnesota’s children in hopes that every child in has the freedom to grow to their fullest potential. However, child protection workers in Minnesota’s largest counties are so short-staffed and our caseloads are so heavy that we cannot respond to reports of child abuse in the time required by law and our greatest fear is that a child will slip out of our ability to protect them. In addition to short-staffing and increasingly heavy caseloads due to legislative reforms that required counties to more aggressively intervene in order to protect children from abuse and neglect, staff turnover is high and morale is low. Screeners, investigators, and caseworkers report spikes in reports of abuse, and while the $52 million that was appropriated in 2015 to assist counties in hiring additional child protection workers, it has not been enough and abuse reports and caseloads are overwhelming staff. Further, the continuing rise in reported child abuse is also filling up foster homes and shelter beds, and in extreme cases is forcing children to stay with abusive parents. Without additional investment, Minnesota children are those who suffer the consequences of legislative inaction. Investing more in child protection and foster care would mean that workers would have the freedom and ability to intervene earlier, provide higher quality care for children, and reduce staff turnover and caseloads. When we hire, train, and retain more child protection workers and have adequate staffing for the number of maltreatment reports, workers will be able to provide higher quality work, reduce staff turnover and caseloads, as well as reduce the long-term costs associated with training. Additionally, staff morale will improve and ultimately Minnesota children will be better served. The Legislature must invest in child protection and foster care. Reasonable caseloads will keep more child protection workers on the job, leading to improvements in child wellbeing, staff morale, and cost savings for agencies and the taxpayer. Action – Ask your legislators to: • • •
Help counties hire, train, and retain child protection workers (Support House File 1699 and Senate File 1704). Direct the Department of Human Services to recommend caseload standards for screeners, investigators, and caseworkers. Fund adequate staffing to respond to reports of abuse in the time required by law.
