One thing is abundantly clear from a new study suggesting nearly 700 new caseworkers and supervisors are needed to staff Colorado’s welfare system.
And that is, before the state starts talking about adding positions, it first must focus on operational efficiencies.
To be sure, it’s clear from the study that Colorado doesn’t have nearly enough caseworkers to look out for the state’s abused and neglected children.
No wonder it has been at least 30 years since Colorado has undertaken such a review. If the answers are obvious and bound to be politically unpopular and financially untenable, why even ask the question?
One only need look at the particulars of the regular parade of horribles involving dead or neglected children who had contact with the welfare system. It has been obvious for quite some time the system is overstressed.
The authors of the workload study, requested by legislators in 2013, took pains to say what the study was not intended to do. It wasn’t designed to measure the consequences of inappropriate workloads, or to investigate how work could be better performed.
Nevertheless, some of the information gathered points to potential changes in policy and procedure. For instance, caseworkers who participated in focus groups said they devoted significantly less time than optimal to family meetings and visitation.
Overall, caseworkers spent 19 percent of their time in direct contact with service recipients, and 81 percent of their time on documentation, travel and consultation related to cases, the report said.
That’s not to suggest that this report be used as a cudgel to beat up overworked social workers, but it should be a touchpoint for understanding how the system has gotten out of balance.
It can work better. It has to work better. And when there is a framework for excellence in place, that’s when the conversation about additional staff should begin.