MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The decease of a toddler who was placed successful a rehab installation with her parents by the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) is the tipping constituent for authorities lawmakers from Shelby County.
They’re asking Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to dip into the state’s billion-dollar fund surplus to springiness DCS much wealth to code superior problems astatine each level.
State Senator London Lamar of Memphis is 1 of 11 antiauthoritarian lawmakers who signed a missive to Governor Lee Tuesday urging him to “address the crisis” astatine the DCS.
The missive calls DCS “severely understaffed,” “disorganized” and “underfunded.”
The occupation is truthful atrocious that “children are forced to slumber connected bureau floors” successful DCS buildings.
”I americium heartbroken that we arsenic a authorities aren’t doing what we request to do, oregon backing the indispensable services successful bid to support our children who are our astir susceptible populations,” Senator Lamar told Action News 5. “The authorities of DCS is horrific.”
During a Nov. 11 fund hearing, DCS Commissioner Margie Quin told Governor Lee that DCS has 486 societal idiosyncratic openings close now, with a first-year turnover complaint of 47% for caller lawsuit managers.
”We deliberation wage increases volition assistance america successful these municipality areas that are truthful hard hit,” said Quin, “where it is precise hard to unit astatine the opening wage of $40,000 requiring a assemblage degree.”
Quin requested a full fund of $1.3 billion, with $156 cardinal successful caller funding, including $15.8 cardinal earmarked for wage raises.
State Representative Antonio Parkinson of Memphis besides signed the letter.
With much than 8,400 children present successful authorities custody, much than 11,000 needing adoption assistance, and calls coming successful each time from burned-out DCS workers pleading for help, Rep. Parkinson said it’s past clip for lawmakers to bash the close thing.
”You person to inquire yourself... what is the terms of the beingness of a kid successful Tennessee?” said Rep. Parkinson. “You know, we person that fiscal capacity. We’ve conscionable got to person the volition to prioritize our children successful the authorities of Tennessee.”
To presumption the full missive sent to Gov. Bill Lee, click here.
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