The Senate report notes that staffing levels are moving in the right direction. DCYF told the panel in the fall that it had hired 17 new workers in September, which would help in moving towards the nationally-recognized goal of assigning 14 families to every caseworker.

“Adding 17 new workers will bring caseloads to a median of 16-17 cases per worker, when these workers pick up full caseloads, and if no new vacancies occur,” reads the report.

But data released last month suggest that the situation has not improved. In every part of the state aside from Kent and Washington Counties, DCYF staff were each assigned at least 18 families, according to the January figures.

In East Bay, for example, the average caseload was 20.2 families (representing 29 children) for each caseworker, who is charged with visiting each child at least once a month.

“The Department of Children, Youth and Families has enormous responsibilities and very limited resources with which to fulfill them. Our committee’s study has shown us just what DCYF’s caseworkers are up against, and it’s not surprising that they’re feeling frustrated and overwhelmed,” said Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman Rhoda E. Perry, D-Providence. “Ultimately, we want DCYF to have what it needs to properly protect all the children and families in Rhode Island.”

The report calls on better cooperation between DCYF and the Family Court to allow state resources to be shifted to where they are most needed.

The Family Court ultimately approves the placement of each child, and the report says that many children – especially truancy cases – don’t need state involvement. But the relationship between the DCYF and the Family Court has been strained in recent months.

“I personally try to cooperate with DCYF. They don’t cooperate with me half the time,” Family Court Chief Judge Jeremiah S. Jeremiah Jr. said yesterday.

DCYF attorney Andrew Johnson said today that he believes his agency has a good working relationship with the Family Court, but declined to comment specifically on Jeremiah’s concerns.

The DCYF and various child welfare advocates were contacted by The Journal today, but have yet to respond to the report.

More to come.