Relates to the caseloads of preventative services caseworkers

• Democratic1

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why the sponsor says this is needed

In 2006, the Legislature required the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to commission a report to determine best practices for caseloads for child protective services, preventative services, and foster care services employees within local departments of social services. While the report recommended optimal levels, no law has ever been enacted to implement these recommendations. Based on this report and other best practice data from across the country, this legislation would require OCFS to issue a regulation that would limit caseloads for full-time preventative service employees within local social service districts to no more than 12 families. Data continuously shows that lower caseloads for employees leads to better outcomes for the children and family they are interacting with as well as better outcomes for the workforce. Lower caseloads allow a case- worker to spend more time on each case, provide better assistance to youths and their families. In addition, it has been shown that high caseloads are the top preventable reason for the voluntary resignation of caseworkers in social service departments. This legislation will help alleviate some of the stress that these caseworkers face on a daily basis while ensuring families and youths in their care receive the time and attention that they need.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.