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b) They have a family in which all the members of the family are incarcerated; the <br />mother just got out of jail and has no support system. The children in this family have <br />significant complex issues including suspected drug abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and <br />mental health issues. This family is in crisis and their children still have to attend school. <br />c} They have a family in which the parent has no transportation other than public <br />transportation. She has no support system in Hillsborough. The social worker has to <br />help this mother access medical care for her children and job information for herself. <br />d) They have a family with three children and the social worker has to work with <br />this family to help access mental health services, Medicare services and child care <br />services. The social worker has worked with the parent who is a drug and alcohol <br />abuser who keeps her children at home for care-taking responsibility. <br />Commissioner Foushee asked what the average caseload for these social <br />workers, especially with the amount of intensity they face. She said that they were all <br />convinced that this is a valuable service and they are proud to be able to provide this <br />kind of service for the schools. <br />Yvette Smith said the highest caseload is 26 families with 40 children and these <br />social workers must work after-hours. The lowest caseload was 13 families and 18 <br />children. This is for one school. <br />Gwen Price said that their goal caseload is 22 families. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked about guidance counselors and Yvette Smith said <br />that they make referrals. The school nurse, teachers, and social workers also refer. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that this would have been a function of the guidance <br />counselor in the past. <br />Gwen Price said that some of the needs that the children have are outside of the <br />schools and guidance counselors did not provide support outside the schools. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked if there were other counties using this model. <br />Nancy Caston said that there are several that have done this kind of model and <br />there are four counties that have similar models and other kinds of relationships. Nancy <br />Costan said that the C~CS has contacted her to expand this program. They think three <br />more social workers would have all the schools covered. This would be the three <br />schools that are the second schools on the list. <br />John Link said the one of the reports that the Commissioners had asked for from <br />budget work sessions was the number of non-profit agencies that provide support in the <br />schools in some way. He asked if social workers work, for instance, with "Adolescents in <br />Need" or after school programs, "Volunteer for Youth" and how well all these allied <br />services work toward overall intervention for families. <br />Yvette Smith said that this was working out. They have to do a family services <br />case plan and collaborate with all those services mentioned in the case plan for each <br />family. Many non-profits service the children inside the school. There is still the need <br />for the social worker to work with the family itself. This service is family focused, it is not <br />just for the children. <br />Chair Carey asked what part of the social worker position does Medicaid cover <br />and Nancy Colton said about 50°~. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked about criteria they were using for providing social <br />workers in the schools. Cedar Ridge High School, Stanback Middle School, and <br />Hillsborough Elementary are not on the list. She wanted to know what this meant. <br />Yvette Smith said that they do have social workers in these schools. DSS has four <br />social workers and OCS has four social workers. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked about C~CS having social workers that work for the <br />school system and not for DSS. <br />