Division Of Family Services Split Goes Into Effect Today

A major change is taking place in the state’s largest department in response to heated criticism over the past year. Today, the Division of Family Services within the Social Services Department is split into two new divisions: the Children’s Division and the Family Support Division. Criticism of the state has grown of late, reaching a peak upon the death of Dominic James while in the care of state-approved foster parents. State Social Services Director Steve Roling says little will change on the outside. Roling has been on the job five months. He says he has found the old DFS had good workers, though they are overworked and underpaid and under extreme scrutiny, scrutiny he claims he doesn’t mind. The new Children’s Division will concentrate on the foster care system, those disputes which force the state to remove children from their home. The Family Support Division provides assistance to families as well as identifies and locates fathers. The collection of child support now will be handled by the Revenue Department.