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DCF reports slow decline in family-services vacancies; residential bed capacity remains constrained
Summary
Department for Children and Families officials told lawmakers vacancies among family service workers have fallen from a summer high and that use of temporary staffing and residential placements has declined but residential capacity remains roughly half of pre‑COVID levels because community programs lack staff.
Commissioner Winters and DCF officials told a legislative budget subcommittee on Oct. 12 that vacancies for family service workers have decreased but remain a pressure point for the department.
The discussion opened with the committee asking about the budgeted vacancy‑savings percentage; the department’s financial director said the common assumption is roughly 3 to 4 percent. "We, it's about 3%, 3 to 4%, but it does vary depending on the appropriation," the financial director said. Committee members pressed whether that estimate still fits the current labor market and whether divisions with higher turnover were stabilizing.
Erica Radke, Deputy Commissioner of the Family Services Division, said the division has reduced…
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