Agenda - 03-19-1985 - Laserfiche WebLink

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, • (q7 FUTURE DIRECTIONS There are several program areas where demand for Services from our citizens warrant in- creased service levels or new initiatives. This Department is affected greatly during periods of economic hardship when demand for all services increase dramatically. In the past temporary personnel and obtaining an exception to the overtime pay policy have been necessary responses. County emergency reserve funds are needed during such periods.. There are several general trends affecting agency clientel: I. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE Sr,s4 The application level for temporary emergencies has increased steadily in the past few years. TREND: Cost of energy increasing, families reserve funds decreasing. Our agency plan . for interviewing and documenting applicants has been accomplished by the Hillsborough based Social Worker on call each day. Due to past staffing pat- terns the Chapel Hill office is adequately staffed in this area. • -- - BUDGET REQUESTS FOR 1985-86: To provide for more consistency in application of policy and documentation and better utilize personnel we propose to employ an Eligibility Specialist I in the Hillsborough office. • • JUSTIFICATION: 1) Increase in demand for service. • 2) Transfer of interviewing assignment from skilled professional staff to sub-professional level. Relief to Social -Work staff will enable them to maintain increasing level of service with no additional staff. During the-period from 1/1/84 through 12/31/84, the Department received ' and investigated 98 child abuse reports and 172 child neglect reports. Preventive intervention was involved in 42 new cases. Included in these statistics were 31 reports of child sexual abuse and 9 reports of child abuse or neglect in dar.:eare centers or family day care homes. These statistics represented a slight increase in overall reporting from the • prior 12 months but a significant increase in sexual abuse and day care investigations which require more time and resources. ' In accordance with agency, state, and federal goals, casework and other services to remedy child abuse and neglect have been provided to prevent family separation and out-of-home placement. Due to increased time each social worker spends in permanency planning efforts the number of children in foster care, group care, and related placements has been maintained below the agency goal of 46. Case management for children in out-of home placement has become increasingly complex and time consuming. TREND: More children with serious emotional difficulties are becoming the respon- sibility of the agency. These Northern Orange children have the follow- ing special needs/special problems: Mental retardation Special medical needs 2 Individual therapy 7 Psychiatric hospitalization 4 Special education placements 5•