THE FIELD CENTER
for Children's Policy, Practice & Research

In the Press

The Philadelphia Inquirer
Friday, April 14, 2006
One Reader Responds
Corzine making right move on DYFS

Your April 3 editorial on Gov. Corzine's decision to elevate New Jersey's Division of Youth and Family Services to a cabinet-level agency was right on the mark ("Tackle these 5 problems"). Correcting the shortcomings in DYFS is a daunting task, yet one that must be met with concrete planning, a sense of urgency, and a focus on results. The lives of children depend upon the quality of service and decisions made by DYFS, and those individuals to whom the public entrusts this responsibility must be given the tools and support to do their jobs.

As you rightly point out, training, case tracking, caseload size, decision-making processes and structural issues need to be addressed in a proactive and urgent manner. Although what ails DYFS cannot be corrected overnight, children are in jeopardy as each day goes by with a system needing repair. Children are not case files or case numbers, but human beings whose very futures will be determined by the agency mandated to care for them and care about them.

We are hopeful that under Corzine's leadership, the process to repair and revitalize DYFS will be both comprehensive and expedient.

Debra Schilling Wolfe
Executive director
University of Pennsylvania Field Center for Children's Policy, Practice
and Research