TRENTON – Senator Paul A. Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic, expressed concerns at today’s Senate Budget hearing with Human Services Commissioner Kevin Ryan on the proposed new Department of Children and Families about the overall costs reaching over $70 million as well as the progress being made in implementing NJ Spirit, the State’s new child welfare case tracking database.
“New Jersey’s current case tracking program is old and inefficient. The significant investment that the State is making in upgrading that system will be well worth every penny provided it gets up and running and works to reform New Jersey’s child welfare system.
“As we move forward with the implementation of NJ Spirit, the new Department of Children and Families must make sure that no further delays hamper the program. New Jersey is already one of the last states in the nation to develop a modern, comprehensive tracking program and we must get the new system in place as soon as possible.”