System sets up DCF workers to fail, critics say.(The Orlando Sentinel)

ORLANDO, Fla. _ Central Florida abuse investigators are juggling some of the heaviest caseloads in the state, making it impossible for them to protect children from harm, child-welfare advocates say.

Statewide, investigators were responsible for an average of 44 cases in April. But in Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Brevard counties, investigators were slammed by an average of 122 cases apiece. Only the district encompassing Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties was worse, with 131 cases.

"With those kinds of numbers, they're never going to catch up," predicted Pamela Day, a director with the Child Welfare League of America, the Washington-based nonprofit that sets a widely accepted caseload standard. "They will always be juggling, always triaging, always responding to what looks to be the most heinous cases."

The district that takes in Lake, Marion and Sumter counties checked in with the fourth-worst numbers in the state _ 59 cases per investigator. But Volusia's district ranked best in Florida with 14, close to the optimum number.

Experts say abuse investigators can't keep kids safe if they're assigned more than 12 cases. Nationwide, child-protection workers actually handle an average 24 children or 17 families at any given time.…