VIDEO | Rep. Joshua Penner questions DCYF on risk assessment tools and data limits during public hearing on HB 1544
Rep. Joshua Penner, R-Orting, engages in a detailed question-and-answer exchange with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) during a public hearing in the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee on House Bill 1544.
The discussion centers on DCYF’s proposal to update its child welfare risk assessment tool, including the use of an evidence-based assessment currently being piloted by the department.
Penner raises questions about data availability, fiscal impacts, and whether the state has sufficient information to validate and implement a new tool effectively.
DCYF officials acknowledge limitations in existing data systems while explaining how certification and re-certification of assessment tools rely on external research, training, and fidelity of use rather than outcome data alone.
This exchange highlights broader issues of transparency, data integrity, and accountability in child welfare decision-making, as well as the importance of ensuring policies are grounded in reliable information.
