1998, the Milwaukee County child welfare system started bigger problems. “We expect, in my view, too much of
operating under the auspices of the state in response to a child welfare professionals,” he says, explaining that case-
legal settlement, which also included 16 enforceable provi- workers not only investigate suspected maltreatment and
sions. In general, the county’s child welfare system has seen determine the best placement, but also have to make sure
monumental improvements in its decade under state con- children are healthy, receiving an appropriate education,
trol—Bicha says adoptions have tripled, while the number and being advocated for in the court system. “We expect
of children in out-of-home care has dropped from a high case managers to practice outside of their expertise,”
of 7,000 to about 2,700 now. In January, BMCW finalized Bicha says.
a corrective action plan to fulfill the remaining five of the “We think that was part of the problem with
16 enforceable provisions. Christopher’s death,” he continues. “A case manager was
But last November, the case of 1-year-old “Baby going out and doing regular visits with Christopher, but
Christopher” Thomas Jr., who died after being abused while wasn’t doing the type of interaction with Christopher and
in the unlicensed care of his aunt and uncle, high- lighted his sister that we might expect a nurse would do.” Governor
the work that still needs to be done in Milwaukee. BMCW Doyle proposed adding nurses to the staff of child protec-
terminated their contract with the agency that managed tive services in Milwaukee, which Bicha supports.
Christopher’s case, and the transition to a new provider was Of course, DCF’s purview is much wider than just
set to be completed by mid-May. DCF took over program Milwaukee County; there are 71 other counties operat-
evaluation and contract performance for BMCW. Bicha also ing 71 different ways. Bicha noted that while there has
announced a new requirement for case managers to double been a significant decrease in the number of children in
the number of visits to children age 3 and younger. out-of-home care in Milwaukee, “in the balance of the
At the same time, DCF is partnering with health state we’ve seen an increase in kids going into out-of-
organizations to conduct a health and safety review home care in the same time frame.” Resolving issues in
of all children age 3 and younger in out-of-home care. the whole of Wisconsin, and helping children and fami-
Bicha anticipates that this type of more specialized lies be successful, is