State Senators are fed up and want solutions on how the Department of Children and Family Services can be more effective in preventing serious injuries or deaths after the state agency gets involved in child abuse cases. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says there have been 12 child deaths this year after 53 child deaths in 2025.
“They need our help. And we cannot fail them. Because when we do fail them, it may actually mean the death sentence for that child,” Barrow said.
Barrow says many of these deaths could have been prevented, but DCFS is not doing enough once they receive a child abuse report.
“The department had went out, had some level of response to the family. But at the end of the day, we still lost the baby,” Barrow said.
State lawmakers are seeking solutions from DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris on how the agency can be more effective. Republican Shreveport Senator Thomas Pressly says the state legislature stands ready to assist.
“We need concrete ideas that are actually going to be implemented and actually affect the people of this state and these kids, who have been harmed for too long by a broken system. Help us help you,” Pressly said.
Harris has led DCFS since August. She reorganized the child welfare division in October, which included moving supervisors into the field to work on cases and establishing a call center staff at DCFS. The secretary says there are other areas where they can improve.
“I have not given up on my team. I don’t want my team to give up on themselves. We are going to continue investing, and we are going to makes sure that we provide better outcomes for children and families,” Harris said.
Barrow has a bill to abolish the Department of Children and Family Services and Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau is so upset, he’s ready to vote for it.
“I’m tired of sugarcoating this. I’m tired of having pleasant conversations in these meetings. I want something done. And if it means passing this bill and starting over, I’m ready to do it,” Luneau said.
Lawmakers have asked Harris to present a plan in two weeks on how to improve DCFS.
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