Federal Review Finds Oregon Child Welfare System Failing

A newly released federal report finds that Oregon's child welfare system is failing to keep kids safe.

The report found the state does not do a good job of preventing kids who have been abused from being abused again.

It concluded that caseworks do not investigate allegations of abuse and neglect in a timely fashion.

The report determined that the state has not been efficient in providing mental health treatment for children.

The review found that the system was failing in each area that they measured.

The Oregon Department of Human Services, which oversees the child welfare system, has been embroiled in controversy for months.

Last month, two of the department's senior child welfare officials were fired by the new head of the agency, Clyde Saiki.

"The disappointing results were no surprise to us – and while there is high quality case work going in child welfare offices across the state, there is an urgency to make improvement," Saiki said in a statement.

"We are accountable for ensuring that DHS is doing the best it can to improve safety, and there is a substantial amount of work that needs to be done in order to improve outcomes for the children and families we serve."

The department is also the focus of a $60 million lawsuit charging abuse and neglect.

When Saiki announced the firings last month, he recognized the department has changes to make.

"We have to improve our systems, processes and culture to ensure that safety always comes first. Our mission is to assist Oregonians in achieving safety, health and independence -- and in some areas we have lost that focus," he said.

"It is my job to make the decisions and changes, sometimes difficult ones, to restore that focus on safety. The Governor expects it, and Oregonians deserve it."