Commends DCF鈥檚 鈥淓xemplary Work During And After Superstorm 厂补苍诲测鈥�
For Immediate Release Contact: Ernest Landante, Jr.
July 17, 2014 609-292-0422
TRENTON 鈥� A new report by a federal monitor overseeing the state鈥檚 child welfare system shows the Christie Administration鈥檚 reform efforts are succeeding and making a positive difference for children and families.
The Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) found the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) is continuing to 鈥渕ake significant progress鈥� meeting requirements of an eight-year-old agreement to reform the state鈥檚 child welfare system.
鈥淚鈥檓 enormously proud of our department, the changes we have made, and the commitment of our staff,鈥� said DCF Commissioner Allison Blake. 鈥淎ll of us are resolved to improve the futures of children and families. The changes we have made 鈥� and will continue to make 鈥� are for their benefit.鈥�
DCF satisfied several additional performance requirements under the agreement, including the timely referral of child abuse or neglect allegations for field investigation, field investigators visiting alleged child victims within appropriate time frames, timely development of case plans for children entering care, and reviewing and modifying case plans at least every six months.
Noting DCF鈥檚 鈥渟olid commitment to transparent, inclusive practice improvement strategies,鈥� the report said DCF鈥檚 use of quantitative and qualitative data for management and practice improvements is an 鈥渋mportant and potentially enduring achievement.鈥�
鈥淎s a learning organization, today鈥檚 DCF is committed to continuous improvement and progress,鈥� said Blake. 鈥淒ata is critical to informing our work and making smart decisions.鈥�
The state has sustained compliance on a number of performance measures, including some for several years, according to the report, which pointed out that 鈥渟ince June 2011, DCF has demonstrated consistently solid performance on nearly all鈥� health care service requirements.
The report called DCF鈥檚 investigative practice 鈥渟trong鈥� and its investigative staff 鈥渨ell trained.鈥�
The monitor pointed out that DCF鈥檚 performance 鈥渞egarding the appropriate placement of children in the state鈥檚 custody remains strong overall鈥� and has 鈥渃ontinued to appropriately recruit, license, train and retain resource parents,鈥� calling the fact that more than 50 percent of the newly licensed families were relatives of children already in care a 鈥渘otable achievement.鈥�
The report commended DCF for 鈥渆xemplary work during and after Superstorm Sandy,鈥� noting that 鈥淣ew Jersey鈥檚 child welfare system responded and continued to operate smoothly through a natural disaster, which is indicative of its solid infrastructure and committed workforce.鈥�
The latest federal monitor鈥檚 report is a measurement of DCF鈥檚 performance between April 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013.
DCF is dedicated to ensuring a better today and an even greater tomorrow for every individual the department serves. In partnership with New Jersey鈥檚 communities, DCF ensures the safety, well-being, and success of New Jersey鈥檚 children and families. DCF funds and directly provides services and support to over 100,000 women, children and families each month.
