"We can`t afford for this system to fail:" State lawmakers raise concern over child abuse case backlog

MILWAUKEE CO. (WITI) -- According to state statute, investigations into allegations of child abuse or neglect are to be completed within 60 days. In Milwaukee County, nearly 3,000 cases have been open longer than that.

Investigations into possible cases of child abuse and neglect are handled at the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare at 26th and Wisconsin.

The office has come under scrutiny from state representatives Chris Taylor and LaTonya Johnson -- who wrote a letter to the head of the Department of Children and Families. That letter asks why more than 2,800 cases in Milwaukee County alone have been open for 60 days. 2,300 of the cases have been open for longer than 90 days.

"When you talk about children being involved in the bureau, there are no do-overs because a mistake, or a missed case, or not having the case examined fully can result in a death," Rep. Johnson (D-Milwaukee) said.

A Department of Children and Families spokesman says any case where a child could face immediate danger is prioritized and is not part of the backlog.

In a statement, he says: "We are well aware of the backlog of initial assessments at the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare (BMCW) and have been taking measures to reduce it -- including increasing the number of BMCW initial assessment specialists and hiring a team of national experts on child welfare to help complete investigations."

Adding new specialists might be a necessity considering the Child Welfare League of America recommends that an initial assessment (IA) specialist have an average caseload of 12 cases.

The current average caseload in Milwaukee County is 51 cases.

Rep. Johnson says the next step is figuring out how those caseloads got to be so large -- adding that could be a challenge.

"Sometimes the confidentiality clauses and workers being afraid of retaliation makes that somewhat impossible," Rep. Johnson said.

Rep. Johnson says reducing the backlog should be among the state's top priorities.

"Because it`s an option of last resort. We can`t afford for this system to fail," Rep. Johnson said.

Currently, the BMCW has 79 initial assessment specialists, and has hired 16 more who are in training.

A citizen review panel that looks at the performance of the bureau is scheduled to meet next Friday, July 18th.