Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin is ordering the Department of Children and Families to do more to protect vulnerable children.
Shumlin made the changes in the aftermath of the deaths of two toddlers who had been in contact with DCF: The February death of Dezirae Sheldon of Poultney and last month's death of Peighton Geraw of Winooski.
The state says that since 2008 the number of child abuse investigations in the state has doubled.
The state is going to recruit 18 new social workers and six substance abuse screeners. The governor is also ordering a possible reorganization of the Department of Children and Families and increased training for social workers.
The changes would help reduce pressure on the department caused in part by the state's much-publicized problem with heroin and other drugs.
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