MODERATOR: THIS IS GOING TO VAN
OSTERN.
>> IT IS WIDELY ACCEPTED JOB
JOSH CHOPPER DIRECTIVE SERVICES
ARE IN CRISIS.
WE HAVE HAD TWO YOUNG GIRLS DIE
WHILE CASES WERE UNDER REVIEW.
WE HAVE STATE PROTECTIVE AGENCY
BEING SUED BECAUSE CHILDREN
UNDER THEIR WATCH WERE SEXUALLY
ABUSED.
AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY SAYS WE
CANNOT HIRE ENOUGH SOCIAL
WORKERS.
THE CASES ARE PILING UP.
WHAT CAN YOU DO AS GOVERNOR TO
ENSURE GREATER PROTECTION FOR
OUR CHILDREN?
MR. VAN OSTERN: WHAT WE HAVE
SEEN IS A TRAGEDY.
INDEPENDENT AUDIT THAT YOU JUST
REFERENCE IS ONE WE HIRED TO
COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.
I SPENT A COUPLE HOURS VISITING.
WITH NO TELEVISION
CAMERAS.
I HEARD ABOUT CASELOADS THAT ARE
FAR BEYOND ANYONE IN THE
INDIVIDUAL CAN HANDLE.
THEY CAN'T BE EXPECTED TO BE LAW
ENFORCEMENT AS WELL.
WHAT WE NEED IS GOING TO BE AN
IMMEDIACY OF ADDITIONAL
STAFFING.
IF WE CAN'T FILL THOSE ROLES WE
MAY NEED TO LOOK AT THE
APPROPRIATE PAY SCALE.
IT IS GREAT WE HAVE  LOW
UNEMPLOYMENT BUT WE NEED TO DO
MORE TO STRENGTHEN OUR
WORKFORCE.
MR. SUNUNU WHAT WE HAVE SEEN
WITH THE CRISIS IS REAL.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT DCYF
NEEDS TO BE FULLY FUNDED.
WE NEED STAFF.
NOT JUST SITTING IN TH OFFIC,
ENGAGE IN ONE-ON-ONE TO FIND OUT
THE PUSHES AND PULLS.
WHEN YOU S MANY OF THE DCYF
WORKERS WITH CASELOA OF 100,
150, WE ARE SETTING OURSELVES UP
FOR A RECIPE OF DISASTER.
TH PROVIDE QUALITY PROGRAM FOR
KIDS TO GET THEM ON A BETTER
PATH.
WE HAVE A LOT OF THE GREAT
PROGRAMS.
IT NEEDS TO BE FULLY STAFFED.
MY PLAN LOOKS AT INCENTIVES.
WE WILL HELP PAY DOWN YOUR HIGH
DEBT.
THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT WILL
INCENTIVIZE THE WORKFORCE.
MODERATOR: TO BOTH OF YOU,
TALKING ABOUT THE STAFFING
SHORTAGE, YOU IDENTIFIED WHY IT
IS SUCH A PROBLEM?
MR. SUNUNU: MAKING SURE THEIR
NEEDS ARE BEING MET.
IT HAS TO BE FULLY FUNDED.
THERE IS MONEY IN THE BUDGET.
IF WE GROW THE RIGHT WAY WE
DON'T JUST TRY TO TAX OUR WAY
OUT OF THE PROGRAM -- PROBLEM,
WE CAN GET PEOPLE  THE
THINGS THEY NEED.
MODERATOR: IN ADDITION, IF IT IS
A MATTER OF MONEY, WHY HAVEN'T
THEY ASKED FOR IT?
MR. VAN OSTERN: I'M FOCUSED ON
THE SOLUTIONS WE CAN BRING TO
BEAR TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF ROLES AND
APPROPRIATE PAY SCALE.
WE NEED TO DO MORE TO KEEP YOUNG
PEOPLE AND YOUNG FAMILIES IN
STARTUPS HERE.
THE WORKFORCE SHORTAGES YOU NOT
-- IS NOT UNIQUE.
WE ARE RAPIDLY AGING.
THE SECOND OLDEST IN THE
COUNTRY.
THEY LEAVE FASTER THAN ANY STATE
EXCEPT NEW JERSEY.
