Agency Reopens Six Abuse Cases

Last year, the agency averaged 400 open cases at any one time, according to agency documents.

Social workers have been working late nights and weekends to respond to the influx. Bobo temporarily detailed 30 social workers from other departments to Child Protective Services, the front line that investigates incoming calls.

A report filed last month by the court monitor assigned to follow the progress of the agency said 50 of the 84 social workers assigned to investigations are carrying more than 12 each, which had been the average caseload locally and is the nationwide standard.

Last month, 30 social workers each had more than 30 cases, according to court monitor Judith Meltzer's report.

Tragedies such as the Jacks case "have the potential to knock any system off balance and particularly a system still engaged in a rigorous change process," Meltzer wrote.

But D.C. Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), a former social worker, said ongoing reforms are necessary, even when the agency is swamped.

"I know it's hard to focus on reforms at the same time when you're dealing with a crisis. But I do feel the agency is dealing with the crisis. I don't think the agency should be viewed as in crisis," Wells said. "We currently do not have children sleeping at the agency like we used to."

Wells is proposing legislation to create a system to track every child, even ones who are home-schooled or in charter schools, not just children attending public schools, as is currently the case.

He also wants to implement a suggestion from the court monitor to create a category for children who are not clearly being abused or neglected but about whom a social worker is concerned, so that "we can increase the safety net."