This measure represents the average number of caseworkers per case by fiscal year. This includes all closed cases and represents a view of how many workers were assigned to a case over its entire duration.

This measure includes the following case types: PSC, PSS, SCF. This measure is used to support legislative requirements for tracking towards frontline caseworker investments (the funds were appropriated during FY2024 after Legislative Approval).

Consistent, stable relationships between caseworkers and families are a cornerstone of quality casework. When a case changes hands, momentum can be lost — information doesn't always transfer cleanly, hearings can be rescheduled, and families have to rebuild trust with someone new. DCFS set a goal in fiscal year 2022 to reduce the average number of caseworkers per case by 5%, from 3.1 to a target of 2.94. After rising to 3.2 in fiscal years 2023 and 2024, the average improved to 3.0 in fiscal year 2025 and to 2.9 in fiscal year 2026 — meeting the target and marking the lowest level in recent years. This progress reflects DCFS's ongoing focus on workforce stability and case continuity. DCFS will continue working to sustain it so that more families experience the consistency of a single, dependable caseworker.