Baker will discuss policy changes within DCF today
The governor will meet with agency officials to go over expected changes.
Governor Charlie Baker and Peter MacKinnon, the president of the union representing Department of Children and Families social workers, will meet Monday to discuss changes to policies and procedures at the agency.
The agency has been under intense scrutiny following high-profile cases where children under DCF care were harmed or died, and after a report from the Office of the Child Advocate that found 184 children were abused or neglected while in the agency’s care last year.
Baker, DCF Commissioner Linda Spears, and MacKinnon will address reporters in a State House news conference at 10 a.m. Monday. After it was identified that Bella Bond, the toddler found at Deer Island and initially known only as Baby Doe, had previously had a case within the DCF system, Baker vowed to review that involvement.
Other high-profile cases include an Auburn toddler who died in the care of her DCF-appointed foster mother, and a 7-year-old boy under agency care who fell into a coma shortly after a caseworker visit.
The state’s official Child Advocate wrote in report earlier this month that DCF caseworkers are set up “to fail.’’ Poor management and too many cases per worker harmed the department’s abilities and quality of work, the report said.
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