Child Welfare Agency Fires 10 for not Getting Licensed

BOSTON (AP) — The state’s child welfare agency says 10 employees have been fired after failing to comply with a new state law that they obtain social work licenses.

The Boston Globe reports that the workers will be allowed to apply for lower-level positions in the Department of Children and Families that do not require licenses.

The Legislature included the licensing requirements in 2014 after several tragic cases involving children who were under DCF supervision.

Unlicensed employees hired before 2014 had until this past July to pass a social work exam, but some were granted an extension until September.

The law also allows the agency to grant six-month waivers to employees who had trouble passing the test due to language barriers.

Officials say 87 percent of the department’s nearly 2,500 workers are currently licensed.