Legislators name changes to the Children, Youth and Families Department a priority [Video]

FUNDING. THAT’S RIGHT. SASHA CYFD IS ASKING FOR OVER $400 MILLION, WHICH IS ABOUT A 6% INCREASE AT A RECENT LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING. AND WHILE THEY SAY RETENTION IS THE MAIN PROBLEM, A LEGISLATOR I SPOKE TO SAYS THEY HAVE OTHER IDEAS. THERE ARE OVER 2000 KIDS IN THE STATE’S CARE. HOWEVER, THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY ONLY HAVE A LITTLE OVER 1000 FOSTER HOMES IN NEED. THEY’RE TRYING TO FILL LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT FOSTER FAMILIES, THE FOSTER FAMILY THAT CAN REALLY TAKE EACH INDIVIDUAL CHILD AND MEET THEIR NEEDS. AND YOU CAN’T REALLY PUT A NUMBER ON THAT. BESIDES FOSTER HOMES, CASADO SAYS, THEY’RE ALSO UNDERSTAFFED. NOW, ONE WAY SHE PLANS TO KEEP EMPLOYEES IS THROUGH MORE TRAINING. SO MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE OUT THERE DOING THAT WORK, AND TRUST ME, IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT WORK TO DO. FELT THEY WEREN’T PREPARED FOR WHAT THEY WERE …