Some officials believe the DCS hotline needs to change

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - After the Department of Child Services changed its hotline system two years ago, officials in our area are saying enough's enough.  Recently, the hotline to report child abuse and neglect has come under fire for several reasons including the wait time.

When a child's life is in danger their concern is the wait time.  It's protocol for local DCS workers to call the state's hotline before they do anything else.  Officials in the Fort Wayne area are trying to change that.

Complaints about the hotline came in after Senator Brent Steele sent out a survey asking for feedback on the state's child abuse and neglect hotline.  Judges and law enforcement replied including Noble County Sheriff Doug Harp.  Harp said it seems ridiculous to have someone in Indianapolis make decisions for his county.

"You know I wouldn't expect Indianapolis to be calling us (Noble County) to get permission on how to do things on events that are happening as we speak in their county," Sheriff Harp said.

Sheriff Harp isn't alone.  Others said the wait time is unacceptable.

"I don't want any wait time for the hotline system in Indiana," Senator Travis Holdman said, "One sixth of all of the calls 100 everyday throughout the state need immediate attention. So, that's a significant number."

A committee is reviewing the DCS hotline to see if any improvements can be made.

"We have made some adjustments. We're running a pilot in a local community. We're seeing how it works," DCS' John Ryan said.

Sheriff Harp would like local DCS workers to be able to make their own decisions.

"They all go through the same training. They have we've got very good relationships with the DCS here (Noble County). They have very competent workers, case workers. And you know let them do their job," Sheriff Harp said.