Important - CPS Loss

Dear Consortium Members:

A few hours ago we became aware that the $2 Million that had been budgeted in the House and Senate for additional CPS workers has been pulled from the budget. It is imperative that Directors, Board Members, and NCSSA members call and email the appropriations chairs as well as the speakers and pro tem's office immediately. Let them know that the $2 Million for additional CPS workers is desperately needed to protect our vulnerable children from abuse, neglect or even death. Below you will find a list of the appropriations chairs/speakers/pro tems office as well as talking points as to the need for additional CPS workers. PLEASE call immediately.

If you need additional information, please call me.

Karen

Provide $5.692 Million in Funding for Child Protective Services Workers
Caseloads are Too High
North Carolina has implemented a system reform effort in 52 of the 100 counties called the Multiple Response System (MRS). This new way of responding to reports of abuse and neglect has been shown to be more proactive and provide better outcomes through the interventions it employs to protect children and help families succeed.

- A caseload of 1:10 is needed to effectively implement MRS. A Duke University study of MRS recommended that an effective caseload size under MRS should be 1:8 worker/client ratio . We are striving to reach a 1:10 ratio which has been achieved in the 52 MRS counties but still have a 1:12 ratio in the remaining 42 counties.

- Caseloads that are too high contribute to turnover. The national turnover rates of child welfare staff—which affect both recruitment and retention efforts—has been estimated at between 30 percent and 40 percent annually nationwide, with workers' average tenure being less than two years. The inability to retain staff contributes to the existing unmanageable caseloads.

- Caseload sizes must be reduced to effectively impact the well-being of families. The amount of caseworker contact has shown to directly impact the permanency outcome of child welfare cases.

- Caseloads are high, but workloads are even higher due to the growing complexity of each case. Substance abuse most often occurs with a finding of abuse or neglect, but mental illness, domestic violence, HIV/ AIDS, other poverty-related problems are also often present.

- For every change in caseworker, there is a significant increase in the time a child spends in the system. Caseworker consistency is essential to the successful outcome of child welfare services.

Rep. Jim Crawford ( Co-chair)

Room 1301, Legislative Building

Raleigh , NC 27601-1096

P: (919) 733-5824

P: (252) 492-0185 (Granville, Durham , & Vance)

E-mail: Jimcr@ncleg.net

Rep. Beverly Earle (Co-chair)

Room 634, Legislative Office Building

Raleigh , NC 27603-5925

P: (919) 715-2530

P: (704) 333-7180 (Wilson & Edgecombe)

E-mail: Beverlye@ncleg.net