DCF Workers Graduate With Advanced Training

A total of 20 new Department of Children and Families workers who will investigate claims of abuse have received advanced training.

On Monday, Denise Hannah-Godfrey was on stage leading her graduating class as they move forward from a program that will put them on the front lines. She is part of the first class of DCF workers who got the training. A total of 100 people will be trained.

Their job will be to head off child abuse in South Florida and remove kids from homes when abuse is already present.  This class is the first to be trained by the DCF and not outside contractors.  

This change is designed to prevent tragedies like the one involving Jorge and Carmen Barahaona, who are charged with first-degree murder after their adoptive daughter Nubia's body was found partially decomposed in the back of Jorge's truck earlier this year.

We don’t like to do things like removing children from their families, however, it is part of our job and we will do what we need to do make sure that children are safe," said Hannah –Godfrey, who is now a child protective investigator.

DCF's new regional director, Esther Jacobo, said those graduating are an example of how the state is much better prepared to protect children now and provide counseling to aid families too.

They will have time to actually to do thorough investigations ... When when we get calls to the hot line they will be able to document what is going on," Jacobo said.

Hannah-Godfrey said the new workers will try to keep families together.

"Offer them services that will help them keep their children in the home. The Department of Children and Families is not about removing children, we are about empowering families so they can stay together," she said.

DCF said the graduates are not a knee jerk reaction to the Barahona case but are part of an overall plan to improve services.

"Since the Barahona tragedy, we have 100 new CPI’s in the field to help us keep eyes on children, to make sure that children are safe, to make sure that families are empowered," Jacobo said.

Even with these new investigators and case agents, Jacobo says they still need the public's help.

To report cases of possible abuse call 800-96-abuse.