Philadelphia Department of Human Services Is Denied... Again
CITY HALL (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Department of Human Services has been denied a full license from the state, for the second time. The Department's new leadership is working on some long-standing problems.
The problems started two-years-ago when the Department outsourced child welfare case management to non-profit Community Umbrella Agencies, which became overwhelmed by skyrocketing caseloads.
The state downgraded its certificate of compliance to provisional status last May, citing numerous violations including falsified reports and the use of a child care room in the Department's office to house children overnight.
An inspection in October found better reporting but continued use of the child care room and still-growing caseloads.
Commissioner Cynthia Figueroa inherited the problems when she took over the department in September.
In a letter of response to state DHS officials, she notes there have been recent improvements.
She points to decreased use of the child care room and an improving record on finding permanent placements for children.
She also notes the CUAs have been given the resources to hire more case workers, in the hopes of reducing turnover and improving results for families in the system.
The provisional license is good till May when the state will re-evaluate.
