Agenda - 11-07-2001-9a - Laserfiche WebLink

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z the fiscal year has Increasetl 6]%(from 130 to 21 ]) with the number of chiltlren receiving ongoing child protective servces increasing 53% (fmm 252 to 386) tlutlng this same time period. During Fiscal Year 200001, [he Board approved four atltlitional chiltl proteRive services social worker posttions to serve these families. Although recmitman[ for racial workere for chiltl welfare positlons has treceme inaeasinBly diffculL DSS has now glletl all of these positions. This includes two workers [o assist with respontling W situations after regular ofice haws. Stutlies by bath the State Division of Social Services entl the Orange County D6Shave found that Oange County does not meet the remmmentletl stafOng stantlards (or chiltl welfare services. These stantlaNS are: 1',12 families at anytime for investigative esaesament or for provision of ongoing services in substemie[etl cases; 1:15 children et anytime for foster care end etloptlons; and 1:5 wprkere for each supervisor. To meet these starWards and Me neetls itlentifietl by the Orange County stag, one chiltl protective services supervisor end hrm child protediva services social workere wnultl neetl to be atltled W provwe ongoing services. With me current rate of Nmover, 8ocial8ervices rarely has all positions filletl at one time. The atltlhion of the proposetl positions will help to retain existing stag by having more manageable workloatls. More frequent home visits will enhance safety far chlltlren and facilitate parental cempliance with profedicn plans. If only one chiltl requiring therapeutic care is tlivertetl from Sodal Services custptly through intensive family woA, the County could save $60,000 in plecemem costs. If the County can malntaln more of Its expetlenced child protective services social wodcers, families will receive better servces and there will also be savings in training vests for new employees- Available space in the Southern Human Services Center is very limited and social workers have already been tloubletl in small offices. 3ociel Services proposes b utilize some of the available funtls tc divide the unused space behintl [he central reception into intlivitlual wprke[etiona. If these requested positions are approved, Social Services woultl work with the Purchasing entl Cenhal Servbee Department to develop an appropriate plan for the area. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Orange County has not yet butlge[etl $186,000 of [he available federal funds for child welfare positions. Those funtls are sufficient to cover Me annual cests of the three proposed positions. Since only seven months of personnel costs would occur in the current fiscal year, some of these adtlitlonal funtls can be used thla year to assist with office space, training and equipment. No match is requiretl entl no ceunty funtls are being requested. Annual Position Pnnuel Opered~g One Tlme Stari Up OBSetdng Net POSifion entl Costs Casl Coat Revenue or 6tert Up Cost (Salaryl6eneflts) Budget Savings $85634' $4000 $28000" $118634"' 0 'Costs for FY2661 A21nclutle salary of 885.634 for seven months. Thesalary cents for next fiscal year are proletled at $148,800. '9ndudes preparetlon of office apace, Initial training vests end the purchase of once equipment. '~POSitions will be funded with Federal TANF funds.