The state Department of Human Services has restored the operating license for Blair County Children, Youth & Families — six weeks earlier than the pending expiration of its provisional license.

The state’s action, based on March 16 and 17 inspections, identified a few shortcomings within the agency responsible for addressing child welfare concerns within the county. But the amount was far less than the state identified in prior inspections leading to seven provisional licenses since issuing the first provisional license four years ago.

In a statement distributed Wednesday, state DHS Secretary Val Arkoosh commended the CYF agency and county commissioners for their commitments to address challenges within the county’s office and to pursue improvements.

“We are encouraged by BCCYF’s progress and the measurable gains it has made toward achieving operational compliance, and this full license underscores the agency’s stability,” Arkoosh said.

The state, which requires and reviews efforts to correct shortcomings in prior inspections, also praised the county in a letter issued Friday, indicating that CYF’s operating license is fully restored as of April 10 and remains valid through Oct. 10.

“DHS determined that significant and continuous progress has been made in the implementation of your plan of correction,” Deputy Secretary Laval Miller-Wilson of the state CYF wrote in her letter to the Blair County CYF office.

Blair County commissioners welcomed the state’s decision.

“To get to this point — after the last four years of feeling like a lot of time we would take a step forward just to take two steps back — is huge,” said Commissioner Laura Burke.

The state issued Blair County CYF its first provisional license in May 2022 after finding multiple violations in areas assessing children welfare complaints and risks, during the prior 12 months.

At that time, CYF was having difficulty filling vacant positions and casework backlogs were increasing. And CYF staff, in June 2022, appealed to county commissioners for help in light of the increasing amount of vacant positions when pay levels were too low to attract applicants during what was recognized as a statewide shortage of caseworkers.

Because Blair County CYF conditions persisted, the state issued three more provisional licenses. And because it doesn’t issue more than four provisional licenses, the state required county leaders in May 2024 to negotiate a settlement agreement outlining the state’s continued role in county operations and efforts that included greater reliance on contracted personnel, the use of state-approved consultants, the hiring of qualified part-time personnel, salary improvements, more training and potential personnel changes.

Within three months, commissioners named casework supervisor Shannon Tucker as interim administrator to succeed Tiffany Treese, who was terminated from the job she took about three months after the state issued the first provisional license.

Tucker, who commissioners subsequently named as the CYF administrator, remains in the role. She was a featured speaker at last week’s annual ceremony outside the Courthouse in recognition of Child Abuse Awareness Month. She also stood among a growing staff of CYF employees who gathered after the ceremony to have their picture taken.

The CYF staff has gone through “an almost complete turnover” in the last four years, according to the commissioners’ office. Caseworker staffing levels, described as critically low between June 2022 to March 2023, are now described as low, with a 32% vacancy rate and ongoing recruitment of qualified applicants.

Burke praised the CYF staff for their efforts and cooperation to get the operating license restored.

“Change can be very difficult, and our staff had to be open to a tremendous amount of change over the last several years and work hard to build the agency,” Burke said. “They should be commended for all their efforts.”

Commissioner Amy Webster also welcomed the state’s restoration of the CYF license.

“Every child is a gift from God, deserving of society’s protection,” Webster said. “We thank and congratulate our CYF staff for their perseverance in accomplishing the goals required to attain full licensing to serve our Blair County kids.”

The state’s review of the CYF operations during the March inspection identified documentation issues to be addressed through greater supervision and the use of a quality control unit.

The state’s review also noted CYF’s failure to make contact with a child within a 10-day period. While CYF saw the child after the 10-day period, the state faulted the county for lack of compliance. However, the state’s evaluation also noted that CYF had “copious notes documenting attempts to see the child.” In addition, the county CYF pledged greater supervision of time frames during case reviews.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.