Indiana Democrats demand investigation into DCS director's claims

Indiana Democrats are demanding an investigation into the concerns raised by the state's outgoing director of the Department of Child Services.

Mary Beth Bonaventura submitted her resignation last week, saying cuts to DCS funding and services are systematically putting children at risk. The director warned Gov. Eric Holcomb that a continuation of his office's policies will "all but ensure children will die."

Bonaventura cited four problems with DCS that she believes need to be resolved: Holcomb's office stripped her position of power; the state is jeopardizing its relationships with providers; DCS' Child Support Bureau is "on the verge of collapse;" and efforts by Holcomb's office to reduce or cap staffing levels of family case managers and child welfare attorneys "will lead to disastrous results."

Holcomb's office did not directly respond to the claims made in Bonaventura's letter. But the governor told IndyStar he has approved $450 million in additional funding for DCS. Holcomb also said he shares the director's commitment to keeping kids safe and believes the state is taking "appropriate steps."

Press Secretary Stephanie Wilson said the state will continue to look for efficiencies in the agency.

"Across all state agencies, it’s our job to find the most efficient and effective ways to provide government service," Wilson said. "If you pay too much for services, you can’t provide as many of them to those in need."

Read more about DCS:

DCS director resigns over Indiana kids being placed at risk

'We felt DCS failed the children': Foster parents push Indiana to pass a bill of rights

On Monday afternoon, Indiana Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage, made a motion to hold a special meeting of the State Budget Committee to look into concerns detailed in Bonaventura's letter. Her motion was defeated, but State Budget Committee Chairman Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen, said he will add discussion of DCS to the agenda for the next meeting for March or April.

Indiana House Democratic Leader Terry Goodin said Bonaventura's letter raises some "highly disturbing questions" about the administration's commitment to protecting vulnerable children.

"To hear that the director of DCS is leaving that post because the administration is pursuing policies that 'all but ensure children will die' should give any reasonable person pause," he said Monday in a statement. "Since taking the post, Mary Beth Bonaventura has done a praise-worthy job of bringing a measure of sanity to an agency that has seen its fair share of deserved criticism through the years."

Former Gov. Mike Pence appointed Bonaventura to the helm of the child welfare agency in 2013. Prior to that, she spent 31 years working in the Lake County juvenile court system as a referee, magistrate, then judge. Former Gov. Evan Bayh appointed Bonaventura as Lake Juvenile Court judge in 1993, and voters retained her by large margins until her move to DCS.

Senate Democratic Leader Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, said the state seems more concerned about protecting its $2 billion budget surplus than its children.

"I am deeply disturbed by the resignation of Judge Bonaventura and the circumstances she has identified as the cause of her departure," Lanane said Monday in a statement. "The judge has been an authority on what is best for this state's most vulnerable children for decades, and it appears that her resignation is based on the administration’s departure from her core value of keeping children safe."

Tobi Beck, an Indiana foster parent who also is a Democratic candidate for Congress, said children will suffer if Indiana values savings over kids.

"As a foster mom, I have seen what cost-cutting at the expense of children and their foster families can do: children unable to visit a doctor or receive the treatment or help that they need because the Department of Child Services claims not to have the funds; a computer system so desperately outdated that funding for children is often lost or delayed; and foster parents compelled to turn to a judge to enforce court-ordered services," Beck said Monday in a statement. "All only to turn around over $300 million in savings."

Bonaventura's resignation will be effective Dec. 27. Holcomb said he's searching for a new director who will share Bonaventura's "same commitment for the health and well-being of our children, and someone who will work collaboratively with other agencies that share that mission."

IndyStar columnist Matthew Tully contributed to this report.

Call IndyStar reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski at (317) 444-6135. Follow her on Twitter: @IndyMarisaK.