Increase protection of abused and neglected children by reducing Child Protective Service Worker caseloads through:
 
     a.  Hiring more caseworkers to bring caseloads to manageable levels:
           12-18 cases per worker over the next decade
           20 cases per worker in the next biennium

     b.   Reinstating and expanding the successful Training Academy Pilot Project (SB1065, 78R) to close high caseworker vacancy rates.

     c. Just-in-time replacement of vacant caseworker position eliminates extra workloads carried by remaining caseworkers.

Cost-Neutral to the agency/state in 2-4 years.

Reduce the increasing number of abused and neglected children by investing in the most proven, cost-effective Prevention Programs with emphasis on early intervention programs and at-risk mentoring programs.
        
     a.  Wrap-around in-home visitation programs which include parent training, support, well-baby care and promote family functioning that replicate successful research-based programs should be intensively piloted in specific areas of the state for evaluation.
States including Colorado, New York, Michigan and Pennsylvania have realized the cost-positive return on investment of in-home visitation programs within 1- 4 years.

     b.  Improve services for families involved with CPS by Instituting Best-practice Recruitment/ Retention initiatives and Training/Continuing Education requirements to build tenure of the highest quality CPS workers.
Research shows that workers with a minimum BSW and an internship with CPS prior to full-time employment had an 87% retention rate. CPS should encourage Universtiy/Agency internships allowing interns to shadow experienced workers and self-select for employment.

FPS should have an independent group such as retired or former CPS workers and other stakeholders make recommended changes to the training academy curriculum and study national best practice curriculums for the most effective training preparation and ongoing education.