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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Department of Child Services has gone over its annual budget by $284 million with two months still remaining in the fiscal year.
The state Budget Committee heard about the issue Tuesday, the Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne reported.
State Budget Director Jason Dudich said the Family and Social Services Administration and Medicaid reserves have been providing most of the excess funds.
The DCS doesn't have enough family case managers to oversee the high numbers of abused and neglected children. It's also in the midst of an outside review after the abrupt departure of its former director, who criticized Gov. Eric Holcomb for service cuts and management changes that she said would harm children.
DCS Director Terry Stigdon said the agency will have a better idea of what resources it needs after the report is completed in June.
Lawmakers gave the agency $125 million more for fiscal year 2018 than they did the previous year, bu the number of children in the system has risen more than 80 percent from 2012 through October 2017.
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