Alabama child welfare system a model

MONTGOMERY, Ala., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Alabama has made tremendous strides in its child welfare system and experts say it is now a model for the rest of the nation, a published report says.

The New York Times reports the state has more than quadrupled funding for the system since 1990 after a court order forced it to take a look at its floundering system.

Social workers have seen their caseloads drop from 50 to 18.

The most dangerous reports of abuse are addressed within a day.

Ninety percent of cases are addressed within five days.

Richard Wexler, director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform called the new Alabama system "a national model."

When comparing the number of children abused after state intervention, the national average is 11 percent -- Alabama is at about 5 percent, down from 13 in the 1990s.