State Audit Finds Massachusetts DCF Failed To Identify & Report Foster Care Injuries; Fed Audit Finds Poor Group Home Oversight

A state performance audit found that the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) failed to identify and report injuries to children in custody to the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), and a federal audit of 30 DCF group homes found poor oversight. From January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2015, DCF did not effectively identify and investigate all occurrences of serious bodily injury to children in its care. DCF also failed to report incidents of abuse, neglect, and/or sexual abuse of children in its care to district attorneys’ (DAs’) offices for investigation whenever it is required to . . .