Richmond, Virginia Officer of the Inspector General Report On Child Safety & The Richmond Department Of Social Services

May 9, 2013
The Richmond Office of the City Auditor, Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation at the request of a city council member after the City of Richmond Department of Social Services (RDSS) employees filed complaints about the department’s operations. RDSS was among the first to introduce Virginia Children’s Services Practice Model, a statewide alternative response initiative to reduce the number of children in foster care. The report found that RDSS management experienced problems implementing the new approach, and that caseworker turnover rates increased from 10% before the new approach to 35% a year later . . .