New Hampshire child protection services get failing grades in federal review

CONCORD — A review of New Hampshire’s child protective services conducted by federal officials concludes the state still has a long way to go in protecting children from abuse.

After reviewing 65 cases in process at Manchester, Concord and Seacoast offices of the Division for Children, Youth and Families in April, officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services say the state is failing in all seven outcomes considered essential to an effective child welfare system.

“None of the seven outcomes was found to be in substantial conformity,” according to the report, released on Friday.

Among the report’s findings:

• The quality of risk and safety assessments was concerning in both in-home and foster-care cases. The agency needs to ensure that children are seen consistently, including observing children in their home environments.

• DCYF needs to meet with all children in a family and with all of the children’s caregivers, especially fathers.

• Too many safety plans rely on informal agreements with parents on what they would do to keep children safe. Monitoring of safety plans also was found to be insufficient and was not adapted to new safety threats.

• High staff caseloads affect quality of work and the staff’s ability to meet frequently with children, parents, and foster parents, conduct risk assessments, safety planning and monitoring, complete comprehensive needs assessments and provide services.

Read more: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20180817/NEWS06/180819553/1010/news06