By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – Jefferson County's child welfare system has not been faring well lately. A recent review found the county's welfare program is struggling with high staff turnover. The overall rate was a bit more than 34 percent, but among senior social workers, it's 50 percent. Jefferson County also is having caseload problems, and it's dealing with inexperienced workers. The review is part of a federal lawsuit filed against the state Department of Human Resources back in 1988. Ten counties were recently reviewed, and problems were discovered in Jefferson, Marshall and Macon counties.