Ex-Indiana DCS case manager allegedly falsified records

A former family case manager for Indiana's child-welfare agency allegedly falsified records involving child abuse or neglect and falsely documented contact with four families.

Elizabeth Funk is charged with ghost employment and three counts of official misconduct — all felonies — and misdemeanor counts of theft and falsifying child abuse or neglect records.

Funk, a former case manager in Bartholomew County for the Indiana Department of Child Services, allegedly falsified multiple “311” reports — the initial assessment made for allegations of child abuse or neglect, The Indianapolis Star reported.

Funk’s attorney declined to comment when contacted by the newspaper. And a DCS spokesperson told The Star the agency had no any comment regarding the allegations.

The state Inspector General’s office was asked to investigate Funk last year after her supervisor returned an assessment that was incomplete, contained errors and lacked evidence that she had made contact with the family involved, according to a report from the office.

Further investigation revealed similar issues on other previous assessments.

State investigators found that Funk had falsely documented contact with four families in her caseload and collected reimbursement for travel expenses for trips she never made, according to an Inspector General’s report from October.

“Funk maintained that she did not recall any of the DCS cases or families whom she was assigned to assess,” that report states.