The Bureau allocates positions for Child Protective Services workers based mainly on caseload data; However, incorporating child population and poverty rates in the allocaton process should be considered.

The objectives of this audit were to identify and review the Bureau for Children and Families' (BCF) child protective service (CPS) worker allocation process and determine if other methods should be used. Also, PERD was asked to determine if population is considered in staffing allocation. PERD found that the BCF allocates CPS workers based on the percentage of accepted CPS cases to a region and district. While the agency typically allocates workers using this method, it does allow for exceptions, which changes the allocation in two or more districts. While the current allocation process keeps the caseload numbers in line with national standards, it does not consider vacancies. When the number of vacancies is considered, the actual caseload is much higher than the allocated caseload.