D.C. Child and Family Services Agency: More Focus Needed on Human Capital Management Issues for Caseworkers and Foster Parent Recruitment and Retention;Report to the Congress

摘要

The District of Columbia's Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) is the agency with primary responsibility for the child welfare system in the District of Columbia (the District). In fiscal year 2003, CFSA was responsible for about 3,000 children, and its operating budget, which was comprised of funds from the District of Columbia government, the federal government, and private sources, was about $200 million. Many parties are involved in the District's child welfare system, and several agencies provide essential services. For example, the Department of Mental Health (DMH) is responsible for arranging, among other things, evaluations to determine the mental health status and treatment needs of children in foster care. The D.C. Family Court was created as a court solely dedicated to matters concerning the District's children and families and, as such, it has jurisdiction over cases involving child abuse and neglect.