The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) is struggling to keep up with the number of children needing services in our state.
Indiana has the fourth-highest rate in the nation of child fatalities attributed to abuse and neglect. In addition, the rate of Hoosier children referred to Child Protective Services is the third-highest in the nation and almost twice the national average.
In 2017, the Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group (CWG) conducted a comprehensive review of DCS policies and procedures.
Senator Randy Head said, “This session, the Indiana General Assembly is considering House Enrolled Act 1006, which would implement the recommendations from the Child Welfare Policy and Practices Group to improve DCS.” Those implementations include:
- Aligning Indiana’s caseload standards with national standards;
- Increasing the amount of time for family case managers to complete their assessments, giving them a more manageable workload;
- Increasing the age limit for former foster children to receive services; and
- Updating the definition of neglect for Child in Need of Services cases to ensure poverty is not a sufficient reason to remove a child from their home.
Senator Head said, “As your state senator, I will continue working to find ways to ensure our young people have the resources and services they need to thrive.”
Learn more about HEA 1006 here
