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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-02-03 Work Session NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION WITH DSS, FEBRUARY 3, 1994 BOOK 23 PAGE 926 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a Work Session with the New Hanover County Board of Social Services on Thursday, February 3, 1994, at 9:00 A.M. in the Senior Center, 116 South College Road, Wilmington, North Carolina. Members present were: Commissioners Sandra Barone; WilliamA. Caster; William E. Sisson, Jr.; vice-Chairman E. L. Mathews, Jr.; Chairman Robert G. Greer; County Manager, Allen 0' Neal; County Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the Board, Lucie F. Harrell. Members present from the Board of Social Services were: Derrick R. Anderson; Gloria W. Oliver; Harry Stovall III; Alice D. Cumberworth; and Chairman, Francis M. Foy. Chairman Greer called the Work Session to order and welcomed everyone present. Mr. Francis Foy, Chairman of the Board of Social Services, expressed appreciation to the Board of County Commissioners for holding the Work Session to allow the DSS Board to discuss their needs. Appreciation was expressed for past and present support of the Department of Social Services and emphasis was placed on the fact that we all have a moral and legal obligation to help people who cannot help themselves. Mr. Foy requested Director, presentation on the current needs Services. Wayne Morris, to a t the Department make a of social DISCUSSION OF PRESENT AND FUTURE NEEDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES Director of Social Services, Wayne Morris, requested DSS employees to rollout 82 feet of forms required for the processing of one AFDC case. The case workers in AFDC have to complete these forms in order to determine eligibility and render benefits to persons who are in need and qualify for this program. Reference was made to the recently published newspaper article that concluded the Department of Social Services had made errors in the amount of $2.8 million. No one knows where this figure came from; however, each year the federal system through the State Division of Social Services selects randomly 1,200 cases in the AFDC Program and 1,200 cases in the Food Stamp Program for a review. During the past year, New Hanover County had 65 cases reviewed from both programs to determine the State's error rate to ensure the State as a whole stays within the tolerance level established by the federal system at a 5% error rate for AFDC. The State Division of Social Services Regional Office is responsible for monitoring the program administered by the County Department of Social Services. The cases selected were reviewed with the data being tracked to identify problems. With the percentage of growth in the AFDC Program and no growth in staff during the past two years, the error rate has increased. The Regional Office is concerned about the increase in errors because this will negatively impact on the State's error rate. It is felt this rate can be reduced by hiring more Income Maintenance Caseworkers. Deputy County Manager, Andrew J. Atkinson, reported the $2.8 million stated in the newspaper article is the amount that has to be paid by the State after a review of all cases reviewed in counties statewide. The State compiles an error rate sample statewide with an average error rate for the State. If the statewide error rate of 5% is established as the tolerance level, and New Hanover County has an error rate of 5.7%, the County is over the average rate by .07%. The County will have to share with the other 100 counties the percentage over the 5% tolerance level based upon the amount of overage per county. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION WITH DSS, FEBRUARY 3, 1994 BOOK 23 PAGE 927 Director Morris stated a report was received yesterday and the County's share is approximately $102,000 for its error rate, which is greatly less than the $2.8 million published in the Star-News. Charts were presented showing the growth in public assistance programs and the following positions were requested to properly carry out these responsibilities as required by federal and state law: 1 Day Care Social Worker: Since 1989, three programs, each with different rules, have been added to the original day care program. The number of children served through subsidized day care has increased from about 400 in January 1989 to more than 1,500 in January 1994. 1 Foster Home Licensinq Social Worker: There are 102 licensed foster homes in the County. In 1989, there were 52 foster homes supervised by two Foster Home Licensing Social Workers. Now 102 foster homes are supervised by three Foster Home Licensing Social Workers. 5 Permanency Planninq/Foster Care Workers (4 Social Workers and One Supervisor): Over the past several years, State money has funded additional Child Protective Services Workers to deal with the problem of increased child abuse and child neglect. Children are being better protected; however, as a result of this increased protection, more children are being placed in DSS custody by the courts. Since 1989, the number of children who are in custody has increased from 181 to 412. DSS is required to develop a "permanency plan" for each child, which entails intensive involvement with the child including a review of the child's biological or substitute family. The permanency planning staff has not increased since July 1989, which has caused children to remain in DSS care for longer periods of time. State recommendations call for staffing ratios of 1 worker to 24 children. The additional positions requested will not provide sufficient staff to meet this ratio, but the positions will help DSS move more children out of the system into permanent homes. 12 Income Maintenance Caseworkers - 5 Caseworkers for AFDC and Medicaid for Families; 4 Caseworkers for Food Stamps; and 3 Caseworkers for Medicaid for Aqed and Disabled Adults: Since 1989, caseloads for all public assistance programs have increased from nearly 9,000 to about 16,000 representing an increase of more than 75%. Applications for assistance have grown from nearly 10,000 in calendar year 1989 to more than 14,000 in calendar year 1993 representing an increase of more than 40%. Total staff for the programs of public assistance has grown from 85 to 94. A lengthy discussion was held on the increase in the case workload and the number of new positions needed. Director Morris reported there is a desperate need for additional staff in order to administer the programs. A lengthy discussion was held on day care facilities and foster homes. Day care programs grew out of the Family Support Act of 1988. The intent of the Act was to assist persons in being removed from the welfare roles through the Jobs Training Program and other educational programs. Before passage of this Act, day care facilities had to be licensed; however, since passage of the Act, day care must be paid to the facility chosen by the parents. This has created a problem for DSS in being sure these children are being safely kept in these day care facilities. Chairman Greer complimented the DSS Board and staff for an excellent job in administering public assistance programs in New Hanover County. However, public assistance programs have increased 75% from 1989 to February 1994, and if this growth continues our society will not be able to handle the costs. Emphasis was placed NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION WITH DSS, FEBRUARY 3, 1994 BOOK 23 PAGE 928 on the fact that the welfare system is broken and must be corrected. The present system penalizes persons working by a loss of benefits and rewards single parents for having more children. Mr. Derrick Anderson, a member of the DSS Board, agreed with Chairman Greer and reported these problems are out of the control, but children and persons in need must be helped. This problem will not go away and as the needs increase, additional workers are needed to provide the services. Competent DSS workers are being burned out with overtime, and they must receive some form of relief. County Manager O'Neal reported he has appointed members of County staff to meet with Director Morris to review and take a fresh look at some possible re-organizational opportunities at DSS to see if some immediate relief can be given. He complimented Director Morris and his staff for performing an excellent job but stressed the importance of allowing time for a staff level analysis from the Budget and Human Resources Departments before approving additional positions. Commissioner Barone reported on the needs by all departments and agreed with the performance of a staff analysis. Commissioner Sisson requested the County Manager to direct staff to identify any areas where DSS is having to pick up the slack because other County funded agencies are not performing their responsibilities. Director Morris agreed that an analysis of the department would be in order, but, in his opinion, the foster care positions are needed immediately to ensure the safety of the children. Comments were received from some of the foster parents present. Emphasis was placed on the need to provide enough social workers to provide counseling for the children and work with families who want to adopt these children and give them a permanent home. Without the necessary workers, many of these children will remain in foster homes or institutions for 14 to 16 years. The Commissioners were urged to approve the additional foster care positions. DSS Board Member, Derrick Anderson, commented on the need to reform the welfare system, but stressed the importance of providing care to persons in need until this is accomplished. Children must be taken care of and every effort should be made to help the foster care parents with visits by social workers and see that these children can be adopted or reunified with their families. The problem will not go away. The drug problem has increased child abuse and neglect and these children have many medical needs. Commissioner Sisson recommended providing some form of interim assistance to foster care homes and parents until the end of the fiscal year and inquired as to the cost of the positions? Human Resources Director, Andre' Mallette, reported the cost for these workers would be approximately $58,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year. Chairman Greer commented on the Board of Commissioners and staff being aware of the needs and recommended allowing staff to work with Director Morris to provide a recommendation to the Commissioners as soon as possible so a decision can be made. Appreciation was expressed to the DSS Board, Staff, and foster parents present for their work and interest in the needs of our children. It was generally agreed that the reVlew should be performed before any positions are approved. NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION WITH DSS, FEBRUARY 3, 1994 BOOK 23 PAGE 929 ADJOURNMENT Chairman Greer adjourned the Work Session at 10:20 A.M. Respectfully submitted, Lucie F. Harrell Clerk to the Board