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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-07-2001-9d ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 7, 2001 Action Aged Item No. SUBJECT: Proposed New Child Protective Services Positions Funded from State Block Grants DEPARTMENT: Social Services and PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No Personnel ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise C. Shaffer, Social Work Program Director, 968-2000, Extension 246 Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director Extension 2550 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider establishing eight new permanent, full-time child protective services Ito address the needs-ofabused and neglected children in Orange County. These positions will be funded with State administered Federal TANF funds. BACKGROUND: The protection of vulnerable children from abuse/neglect is an important . County responsibility. The Department of Social Services is mandated to investigate reports of abuse/neglect, make a determination as to whether or not abuse/neglect has occurred, provide treatment services to reduce risk of harm to children, petition the court to remove children at imminent risk of harm, and place children in Social Services custody in a safe environment. During FY 1999-2000,1,661 children were alleged to be abused/neglected. There were 575 substantiations of abuse/neglect; almost half of these children (276) were under six years of age. These very young victims are among the most vulnerable citizens in our County. To enhance safety for children and families, Social Services must complete the following child protective services responsibilities: • Initiating investigations as soon as possible to ensure prompt assessment of risk or harm to children. • Visiting children frequently to determine that protection plans are being implemented and children are not continuing to be victimized. • Providing intensive reunification services to children in foster care. • Working to move cases expeditiously through the court process. • Achieving permanence for children in a reasonable time frame. Over the last five years the number of CPS investigations has increased from 566 in 1995 to 769 in 2000, an increase of about 36 percent. The number of open CPS family treatment cases at the end of last fiscal year has increased from 130 in 1995 to 208 in 2000, a 60 percent increase. During the same timeframe, the number of children receiving CPS services has increased about 56 percent from 252 children to 393. Social Services Proposed New. Positions Through the receipt of State administered Federal TANF funds, Social Services has the opportunity to significantly enhance Orange County's safety net for children and families by establishing the following positions: • Two Child Protective Services Social Workers (to be assigned to a late shift) to handle late day referrals, evening contacts required to assure protection of children, and on-call duties initiating investigations outside regular office hours. • Five Child Protective Services Treatment Social Workers to work with families and children where abuse/neglect have occurred to preserve families whenever possible, work with foster children to achieve permanence, and increase the independent living services provided to adolescents in Social Services custody. One Child Protective Services Supervisor to provide guidance and support to the direct service staff. These positions would result in the following outcomes: Decrease time in responding to child abuse/neglect referrals. Increase safety and permanence for children. Decrease the length of time a child is located in foster care. • Increase the stability of child placements. • Enhance the independent living program for adolescents in our custody. • Reduce turnover in Child Protective Services positions by reducing extra hours worked and call backs to work outside of the regular work schedule. Increasing the frequency of home visits will enhance safety for children and facilitate parental compliance with protection plans. If only one family receives intensive family work and Social Services does not have to take custody and place the child in intensive therapeutic care, potential savings to the County could total $60,000. As adolescents receive intensive independent living services through this program, it is more likely that they can become fully functioning members of society and avoid entering the criminal justice system and costly incarceration. If the County can retain more of its experienced Child Protective Services Social Workers, this will offer improved services to families and save training costs for the County. Background to Manager's Recommendation Given the State's current and projected budget shortfall, the Manager recommends that the Board establish four new positions at this time, and consider establishing the remaining flour positions as part of the budget process for 2001-02. This provides an opportunity to have a clearer picture of the State's fiscal environment and its impact on Orange County. Social Services advises that if four positions are approved it would use the positions as follows: • Two Child Protective Services Social Workers (to be assigned to a late shift) to handle late day referrals, evening contacts required to assure protection of children, and on-call duties initiating investigations outside regular office hours. • Two Child Protective Services Treatment Social Workers to work with families and children where abuse/neglect,have occurred. FINANCIAL IMPACT: During the 2000 legislative session, the NC General Assembly approved about $7.2 million to assist 31 counties in providing protection services for children. The funding was part of a Federal TANF Block Grant that the State received. Information received in the grant award stipulates that these funds must be used to fund Child Protective Services positions created after July 1, 2000. Full year funding of eight positions totals $392,019 for salaries, fringes and operating costs. In addition, there are one-time start up costs of $23,776 for furniture and equipment for the eight positions. The State has advised us that, if the eight new positions are established, Orange County is eligible to receive additional funds totaling $237,019 to offset the costs of the positions. These additional funds are available through the end of fiscal year 2002-03. In addition, the State has approved Orange County's use of currently budgeted TANF revenues in the amount of $200,108 to offset remaining position costs. If the Board chooses to establish four Social Worker positions for the remainder of the current fiscal year, costs for salaries, fringes, operating and one-time start-up costs total $86,918. The State indicates that we can use the currently budgeted TANF funds to offset these costs and further advises that we will not be eligible to receive any additional funds during the current fiscal year. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: • Approve establishing four new permanent, full-time child protective services positions as shown above effective February 7, 2001, contingent on continuation of grant funding. • Consider the four remaining positions as part of the budget process for 2001-02.