AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO CREATE ONE FULL TIME (1.0 FTE) CHILDREN'S LONG TERM SUPPORT SOCIAL WORKER POSITION OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AS A RESULT OF THE STATE'S MANAGEMENT OF WAITLIST AND COMMITMENT TO WAITLIST ELIMINATION

Committee Status: 
Approved
Budget Status: 
Budgeted
Decision Impact: 
Significant
FTE Impact: 
Yes
Funding Source: 
Other (see budget status)

Purpose

Authorizing to create one full time (1.0 FTE) Children's Long Term Support Social Worker position outside the budget process.

Background

Sauk County Department of Human Services has evaluated its use of social workers within the Children’s Long Term Support (CLTS) Unit.  This evaluation process has determined the need to increase social work staff in order to provide effective services and maintain current staff.  Since February 2020, Sauk County’s CLTS program has increased total enrollment by 36% due to State waitlist elimination initiatives.  In February 2020, Sauk County CLTS served 105 children as compared to currently serving 143 children.  If CLTS continues to experience this level of increase, the program could be serving 195 children by this time next year.  The increased referrals are the result of the statewide waitlist elimination initiatives, which were fully implemented in January 2021.  This action was taken by the State outside of County budgeting cycles with limited notice to Counties.  It takes approximately six months to train and prepare a social worker in this service area.

Resolution Files: 
File Resolution authorizing Sauk County Human Services to hire one full time Children's Long Term Support Social Worker
File REVISED - Resolution authorizing Sauk County Human Services to hire one full time Children's Long Term Support Social Worker
File REVISED-Resolution authorizing Sauk County Human Services to create 1 fulltime Children's Long Term Supp. Social Worker position
Budget Status (Other/External Sources): 

Fiscal Note:  Estimated cost for this position: salary and benefits (annual cost) = $92,282; one-time costs (AVATAR license, desk, supplies) = $2,750, annual on-going costs (AVATAR license-monthly charge, cell phone, training, mileage) = $3,500.  Funding for this position, on average, is a combination of CLTS Waiver funding (60%), Medicaid (CCS) (20%), and County Levy (20%).  County Levy will be covered with projected savings from reducing out-of-home/institutional placements and from foster care reimbursement for special needs expenses.  Due to the initial training timeframe of six months, first year funding of this position will have a bigger contribution from County Levy as there will be less billing to CLTS Waiver and Medicaid.

MIS Note:  Initial MIS costs are estimated to be $2,500 for equipment and licensing to support this position.

Resolution Body

             WHEREAS, the Human Services Board, Personnel & Insurance Committee, and Finance Committee, have reviewed the position request relative to Sauk County Code of Ordinances 13.019(4), and determined that extraordinary and unanticipated circumstances exist, creating the need for creation of one Children’s Long Term Support Social Worker position and that funding also exists; and,

            WHEREAS, it would be in the best interest of the County to create one full time Children’s Long Term Support Social Worker position for the Department of Human Services outside the budget process; and,

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors, met in regular session, that the Sauk County Board of Supervisors authorize the Sauk County Department of Human Services to create one full time (1.0 FTE) Children’s Long Term Support Social Worker position to serve the children and families of Sauk County as soon as possible.

 

For consideration by the Sauk County Board of Supervisors on May 18, 2021.

Requested Board Review Date: 
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
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