In the report, auditors describe what they call "numerous" and "glaring" instances in which caseworkers did not complete child protection investigations on time and failed to visit homes once a month as required.

Among the findings reported by the state's Legislative Audit Council:

• In 34 of 55 cases examined, children were not visited once every 30 days as required by state law. In one York County case, a child in a sexual and physical abuse case wasn't seen for four months.

• In 30 of 77 other cases, people considered to have committed sexual abuse were not properly listed on a central registry.

In one Marlboro County case, a court order to put someone on the registry wasn't followed until 18 months later, after auditors asked questions.

• In three-fourths of the cases reviewed in York County, visits were not made on time, but there were no reports of caseworkers or supervisors being disciplined.

Agency director Kim Aydlette said Wednesday improvements have already begun. DSS is hiring more workers, planning pay raises and devising a bonus program for top employees.

Repairing the agency, lawmakers said, requires changes both immediate and long term.

"It's going to take more than just money," said state Sen. Wes Hayes, R-Rock Hill. "They'll always have challenges at DSS. But I think they can build on the good things and maybe change the way they do business. Changing the culture is a good way to put it."

Review after murder-suicide

The 30-page study looks closely at five counties, including York, where five family members were found dead in their home in August 2004.

Authorities labeled the case a murder-suicide and said one or both parents were responsible.

The bodies of Jose "Denis" Meza, his wife, Marbely, and their three children were discovered inside the family's burned home north of Rock Hill. The children had been drugged and their throats were slit, and the 14-year-old daughter had been sexually assaulted.

Four months earlier, DSS launched an investigation after Jose Meza was accused of sexually assaulting the 14-year-old. But disciplinary records showed York County workers failed to meet monthly with the Meza family as required and did not interview all relatives about child sexual abuse allegations against the father.

"When I first asked for this, some believed it to be a witchhunt," said state Rep. Gary Simrill, R-Rock Hill, who requested the audit of the agency's child protective services in March 2005. "This is about what's best in protecting the children. I just hate it took a tragedy like the Meza family to bring this to fruition. That's unfortunate, but it's a reality nonetheless."

Aydlette said planned changes will improve an agency that suffered heavy personnel losses in recent years. State budget cutbacks forced DSS to lose more than a quarter of its staff between 2001 and 2005.

But this year, legislators approved 350 permanent child welfare workers. In addition, the agency has hired 25 temporary employees to help close cases open for more than 12 months. York County was approved for six workers.

"I think it's a good first step," Hayes said of the additions. "There are a lot of poor people in the state who for various reasons have to work with DSS. Some other states may not have as big a challenge."

Aydlette told The Herald on Wednesday that DSS is requesting $6.2 million to raise the pay of caseworkers and supervisors to the Southeastern average and create an incentive program for exemplary employees.

The audit found South Carolina's entry-level caseworkers are paid $28,527, or $1,270 less than the national average minimum salary.

In Mecklenburg County, by comparison, the starting salary for a child protection caseworker is $40,039, the report said.

"I'm hoping those things will cause a natural improvement," Aydlette said. "It's painful to go through the (audit) process, but I really think we're putting some things in place that are going to bring us to a much better level."