Issues remain at state foster system after pledge of reform

BOSTON (AP) - Months after Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker pledged to upgrade the state’s troubled foster care system, concerns remain.

The Boston Globe reports social workers face a series of problems in the department’s system even after the governor’s announced reforms in May.

Some of those issues include social workers struggling with an antiquated, paper-based system for tracking kids and placing them in foster homes in emergency situations.

The Baker administration had announced a new after-hours hotline database that tracks open foster homes in real time would begin by Nov. 1. But officials said last week that the database will not be operational till January.

The state’s Department of Children and Families says in a statement it is working to “implement all of the reforms originally announced.”