HARRISBURG, Pa. -- It's been just over a year since the horrific death of nine-year-old Jarrod Tutko Jr., who died after a lifetime of neglect.
His death revealed dysfunction and disarray within Dauphin County Children and Youth Services. Caseworkers visited the home, and there were repeated calls for help- including from a hospital and a school, on behalf of his siblings. But in the end, the calls were missed, and Jarrod was found dead weighing 16 pounds.
The state placed CYS on a provisional license after it was revealed that caseworkers were overworked and "didn't know how to do their jobs," sometimes crying at their desks.
On Wednesday, the interim director at CYS, Joe Dougher, gave county commissioners an update on changes at the agency. He says CYS is close to filling its 84 caseworker jobs, as well as six part-time positions that will meet with families during evening hours. But he added that the agency is now handling 119% more cases, with changes in the child abuse reporting laws.
"When you have a hundred percent more cases it's a little more difficult to engage families in the kind of way you want to," he said. Dougher returned to the agency this year; he wasn't working there during the Tutko case.
Caseworkers now receive better mandatory training. When caseworkers came to the Tutko home, they didn't recognize Jarrod's emaciated condition, because he had Fragile X syndrome; and they did not ask to see where he slept, in a locked, feces-covered room.
Caseworkers now must inspect the entire residence.
District Attorney Ed Marsico praised CYS but said caseworkers need more on-the-job training, in a statewide effort.
"They walk into some homes that you or I wouldn't want to walk into, and frankly, the police are careful when they walk into," he says. "And we're putting recent college grads into these situations."
The agency will also have a quality assurance team check on cases. The state is also monitoring them.
Commissioners said the changes at CYS are positive. However, they said CYS has already suffered budget cuts, and may face more.
Commissioner George Hartwick III says he's concerned about the $400 million cut to the state child welfare budget, proposed in the House-sponsored budget.
"Do you know what that would do in this time that we are facing - not only here in Dauphin County but statewide?" says Hartwick. "It would decimate the ability for us to continue to protect and serve kids."