'It's near collapse' Knox Co. judge describes current situation with Department of Children Services

Knox County Juvenile judge Tim Irwin brought some of his major concerns about the current status of the Department of Children’s Services in Tennessee which includes how the department is near collapsing. He said the department was so short staffed, they can’t provide all of the services necessary for the children. Irwin said there were measures going on that aren’t legal.

“When I commit a child to the Department of Children Services, and they remain in my detention for weeks sometimes into months, without a place to go, that’s wrong. It’s illegal but it’s happening. It’s happening in Knox County,” Irwin said. “We don’t have enough DCS employees. If you haven’t heard that, I’m telling you it’s near collapse.”

A solution he offered state leaders was to put more funding into it.

“Throw money at it. I’m telling you right now, throw money at it. Tons of money at it. We have got to make these positions attractive to people,” Irwin said.

https://www.wvlt.tv/2022/09/08/its-near-collapse-knox-co-judge-describes-current-situation-with-department-children-services/

People are leaving every day because their caseloads are too large, so maybe more money for more people to pay more salaries?