The new leader of the largest agency in Iowa state government vows to “improve morale” among “front-line” social workers and conduct a “bottom-to-the-top” review of Iowa’s child welfare system. Jerry Foxhoven is now director of the Iowa Department of Human Services.

 

An outside consultant has already begun a review of cases involving two teenage girls who died after being adopted by their foster families. After just a few hours as the agency’s director, Foxhoven says what he knows about the cases is what he’s learned from media reports.

 

Foxhoven is a 64-year-old attorney and Drake Law School professor who has spent his career as a child advocate. He led several groups that advised the department on the foster care system and juvenile detention.

Foxhoven grew up in Yankton, and graduated from Morningside College, then received a law degree from Drake.