The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) announced a focused overtime effort to tackle the mounting child‑protection investigation backlog in Baton Rouge. Fifteen experienced investigators from Greater New Orleans, Thibodaux, Shreveport and Monroe began the project on Sept. 28 and will continue through the end of the year.
Backlog Numbers and Scope
As of last Saturday, Baton Rouge reported 1,200 overdue investigations, representing about 72% of Louisiana’s statewide backlog. The state as a whole had 1,666 overdue cases, down 55% from the October 2025 peak of 3,690, but the backlog grew by 111 cases (approximately 7%) since August.
Staffing Challenges
DCFS faces significant staffing shortfalls. On Oct. 6, the child‑welfare division had 188 vacant positions out of 1,540 authorized roles, a vacancy rate of 12.2%, and accounted for nearly three‑quarters of all department vacancies. Between Jan. 2 and Oct. 10, 244 child‑welfare employees left the agency while 163 were hired, resulting in a net loss of 81 staff members.
Turnover rates rose sharply in recent months. From September 2025 through March, an average of about 1.5 out of every 100 child‑welfare employees left every four weeks. That figure increased to roughly 2.3 out of every 100 from April through August, a 51% rise. Baton Rouge experienced the highest share of departures, with 32 of its 111 employees leaving over the past year, reducing its workforce to 89.
Overtime Project Details
The overtime team is handling the backlog while regular Baton Rouge staff continue to address cases with unresolved safety concerns. The department’s presentation to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee outlined a 60‑day policy timeframe for completing investigations, emphasizing that cases will not be closed merely to meet numerical targets.
Additional Measures to Prevent Future Delays
Alongside the overtime effort, Baton Rouge is adopting case‑review procedures already used in Greater New Orleans. Under this model, caseworkers and supervisors identify outstanding tasks, assign responsibility, and set deadlines. Cases approaching the 60‑day mark receive extra management review. Greater New Orleans has employed this approach since January and currently has only 25 overdue cases among 863 open investigations.
Looking Ahead
DCFS is working with State Civil Service on a salary study, exploring a workforce‑development partnership with the University of Louisiana System, and investing in its training academy. While the release did not disclose specific costs or timelines for salary adjustments, the agency indicated a commitment to strengthening recruitment and retention.
By combining overtime staffing with proven case‑review practices, Louisiana aims to bring overdue investigations back within the statutory 60‑day window and ensure the safety of children across the state.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
