Dept. Of Human Services Outsources Work, Leaves Staff Intact
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia City council continues budget hearings this week. Among the departments before council is Human Services, which has requested a budget increase, even though it has transferred its child welfare work to community non-profits.
It was expected DHS would reduce the size of its staff, once it had transferred its cases, and use the savings for other things. It hasn't worked out that way. Less than 300 of 1400 employees have left.
Karin Harris, who works with the community providers, says that's not sustainable.
"There's no city in the US that can carry two child welfare agencies, essentially, is what it is. It's just not possible," Harris said. "We don't have the budget for it."
Acting DHS commissioner Jessica Shapiro says all her case managers are busy, even though they're not managing cases. For example, she says, there's been a spike in child abuse reports because of new state laws.
"And I need to have staff that are there to investigate those reports," Shapiro said.
State officials say the size of the staff is one of a number of issues the department must address. Child advocate Donna Cooper she understands the department may still need the workers but questions how they're being deployed.
"There's great opportunity there if people are really open to really thinking about how to make the best and highest use of those resources," Cooper said.
Cooper, executive director of Public Citizens for Children and Youth, says putting social workers in schools could prevent families from entering the child welfare system.
"They can see the early warning signs and they can help those families stabilize and they can help those kids get the supports they need. These are the unique skills social workers have. It will accrue benefits to our child welfare very quickly because fewer kids and fewer families will be at risk."
Cooper says the surplus case managers could also help the community non-profit providers, which have been plagued by over large case loads and rapid staff turnover since taking over DHS functions.