Three weeks into his position as Secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, retired Caddo Parish Juvenile Judge David Matlock recognizes changes need to be made to better assist children and families. The previous administration struggled with a lack of caseworkers and overwhelming child welfare caseloads.
“We’re hemorrhaging people, good people, and I’ve asked them to generate for me a list of the workers that we’ve lost over a certain period. If they are willing to let me reach out to them, I want to talk to them,” said Matlock.
Matlock said he wants to know what can be done for them to return to DCFS or take suggestions on what can be done to help caseworkers going forward.
He also wants to hear from foster parents and Matlock encourages individuals to reach out to foster parents and offer to help them, with simple things like bringing them a meal or offering to babysit.
“They are not the kind of people who will ask you for help. They’ll say pray for us or think about us, but there are tangible things that people can do, everyday folks can do to support them,” said Matlock.
Matlock said the department is in desperate need of cars for caseworkers that transport children, and those vehicles are often the office for caseworkers.
A strike force has been created to focus on the hiring and retention of caseworkers. Matlock said it would take more than compensation to fill those positions, it’s a matter of making the job sustainable.
Matlock said Governor Jeff Landry asked him to come out of retirement to lead the department and that the governor also wants to meet with foster parents personally and address their needs.
“That gives me chill bumps to know that the leader of this state with all the many things he has to be concerned about is concerned about those people who are giving so much,” said Matlock.
Matlock also encourages individuals to volunteer as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, also known as CASA, to make a difference in a child’s life.
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