Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT THAT IS AN ASTOUNDING NUMBER,A SHOCKING NUMBER.THERE IS NO WAY TO CLOSE 1500CASES OVER TODAY.>> GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU TONIGHTREACTING TO A REPORT SAYINGFORMER DCYF DIRECTOR LORRAINEBARTLETT ALLOWED THE CLOSING OFMORE THAN 1500 CASES OVER A 48HOUR PERIOD IN FEBRUARY OF LASTYEAR.BARTLETT HAD ALREADY TURNED INHER RESIGNATION EFFECTIVE THEEND OF MARCH.BUT NOW, SHE'S ON ADMINISTRATIVELEAVAND THE GOVERNOR IS PROMISING TOHAVE EVERY ONE OF THOSE CASESREVIEWED TO SEE IF ANY SHOULD BEREOPENED.>> WE REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTANDTHE PROCESS.WAS THIS INTENTIONAL?WAS IT NOT?WHAT WERE THE CASES AROUND THEFILES? >> AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOF DCYF WAS LAUNCHED LAST YEFOLLOWING THE DEATHS OF BRIELLEGAGE AND SADIE WILLOTT BOTHCHILDREN IN THE CARE OF THEAGENCY.THAT REVIEW REVEALED HIGHTURNOVER RATES AND STAFF BURNOUTWITHIN DCYF.NOW, THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO MAKSURE NO OTHER CHILDREN ARE ITHE SAME DANGER.THE GOVERNOR SAYS THAT REVIEWCOULD TAKE SOME TIME.HE ALSO SAYS A NATIONWIDE SEARCHWILL BE USED TO FIND A PERMANENTDCYF DIRECTOR.>> THESE ARE LIVES, AND THEY

Advertisement DCYF director placed on administrative leave Sununu: 1,520 cases closed in just two days now being reviewed Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Gov. Chris Sununu placed the head of the Division for Children, Youth and Families on administrative leave, after learning 1,520 cases were closed in just two days. “That’s an astounding number, a shocking number,” Sununu told WMUR. “There’s no way to close 1,500 cases while doing complete due diligence on all of them over a period of two days.” The Concord Monitor first reported Saturday that public records showed DCYF closed the abuse and neglect investigations over two days in February, 2016, right after current Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeff Meyers had been confirmed to the position. Effective immediately, Sununu said agency director Lorraine Bartlett had been placed on administrative leave, and Human Services Division Director Maureen Ryan had been appointed interim director. In late January, Bartlett had submitted her letter of resignation from the position, effective March 31. A national search was launched to recruit for a permanent director, Sununu said. Sununu also said all of the closed cases will be reviewed, to see if any need to be reopened. “We really need to understand the process here. Was this intentional? Was it not? Is it something that continuously occurs? What other times has it occurred? What were the cases around these files?” The new revelations followed an independent audit of DCYF launched last year, following the deaths of Brielle Gage and Sadie Willot, children who were both in the agency’s care. That review revealed high turnover rates and staff burnout within DCYF. WMUR tried to reach Lorraine Bartlett Monday evening, but was not successful.