Commissioners hear concerns from Highland County Children Services
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Commissioners received more bad news from Highland County Children Services Executive Director Wendy Jacobs at their Wednesday board meeting. Jacobs and HCCS case worker Jeff Rulon provided an update on the Children Services staffing level and fiscal issues.
“I am concerned about the lack of intake and ongoing workers,” Jacobs said. “I will be hiring one intake and one outgoing worker as replacements for staff who have recently resigned. I would like permission to hire two new caseworkers to ensure mandates can be met and children are safe.”
Jacobs told commissioners “We are in serious trouble. We are down to one intake, one ongoing, and one caseworker.”
Jacobs presented a comparison with Clinton County and said there is a significant difference in the ratio of children per caseworker. “We are almost $700,000 in debt right now,” Jacobs said. “Our donor (who was not identified) has called his note. That will take the first $90,000 of levy funds. At this point, we may not be able to pay foster parents again. I know the county is broke, but I am here again.”
Jacobs said the Children Services workers who have recently resigned cited their reason for resignation as a lack of county support, ongoing furloughs, no pay raises in three years, and large caseloads.
“To operate an efficient agency, additional funding is necessary,” Jacobs said. “Due to the loan against the levy, we will continue to struggle and go further in debt, with the possibility that the foster parents will again not be paid without financial assistance from the county.”
“My concern is, you can only triage certain things,” Rulon said. “It’s kind of a scary time, thinking of the possibility of missing something.”
Rulon referenced a recent fire that claimed two young children, and while he said HCCS was not contacted on this particular family, he said. “It’s those situations when you don’t want to miss something. We can’t do it with our current staffing. It’s just the emergency cases we’re going to.”
“We are putting a Band-Aid on it and moving on. Kids are coming in left and right, we have high unemployment, high drug use, and high criminal activity, and we can’t get to all the cases we need to.”
Jacobs said the spread of heroin in the county “is an epidemic.”
Heaton responded that the economic impact has been felt by many county agencies. “It’s been frustrating for us,” Heaton said. “People just don’t realize we’ve been impacted more than any other county in the area. The state and national media always focus on Wilmington.”
“Our revenue stream is down $2 million,” Horst said. “Our county recorder and county auditor are both taking in less revenue.”
“If we had the money, we would give it to you,” Heaton said.
Jacobs responded, “It’s to the point where we will lose a child. I’m losing my best worker to Clinton County due to pay furloughs and work load.”
Horst replied, “Clinton County has not had the layoffs we have had.”
Commissioners suggested Jacobs seek funding assistance to help compensate foster parents through the Clinton County Foundation.
Commissioners said the foundation had received $1 million from DHL for regional assistance (see www.co.clinton.oh.us).
Commission President Shane Wilkin said he would make a call to Clinton County to see if they would be receptive to Children Services.
“I just want you to be aware of where we are,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs then questioned commissioners on the possibility of Highland County Children’s Services being combined with Job and Family Services.
“We are looking at all options,” Horst said.
“Yes, we are looking at it,” Wilkin added.
“Our staff wants to know if the Children Services administrator will still be there,” Jacobs said.
Wilkin responded, “I think there’s still going to be a Children’s Services administrator.”
“We haven’t decided to do it yet,” Horst said.
“I have asked Judge Greer (Highland County Common Pleas Court Juvenile and Probation Judge Kevin Greer) to call other counties and see how they are operating,” Wilkin said. “Our ultimate responsibility is to the kids and the taxpayers.”
In other business, commissioners said bids are set to go out for painting some areas of the Highland County Courthouse.
Commissioners are also considering a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal lawmakers. The commissioners would pay their own expenses.
Commissioners were also scheduled to meet with Debbie Robbins, director
of the Department of Job and Family Services, in executive session regarding
personnel matters.
Commissioners approved the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:
• The authorization of a transfer to Help Me Grow (County) as follows: from Help-Me-Grow, Reimb., to Help Me Grow (County) in the amount of $10,000.
• The authorization of a modification to the TEC budget as follows: from
Contracts & Services to Contracts & Repairs in the amount of $500.
• The authorization of additional appropriation to the Sheriff's budget
as follows: from Unappropriated Funds (High Visibility Enforcement Grant) to
Sheriff Employee Salaries, in the amount of $4,251.24.
• The approval of the creation of a new Children Services fund to be known as Children Services Emery Fund and the authorization of the following appropriation: from Unappropriated Funds to Children Services Emery Fund, Other Expense, in the amount of $300.
• The approval of a new Children Services fund to be known as Children Services Polk Fund.
• The approval of additional appropriation to the Sheriff's budget as follows: from Unappropriated Funds (Meth Initiative Grant) to Employee Salaries in the amount of $6,749.86.[[In-content Ad]]
“I am concerned about the lack of intake and ongoing workers,” Jacobs said. “I will be hiring one intake and one outgoing worker as replacements for staff who have recently resigned. I would like permission to hire two new caseworkers to ensure mandates can be met and children are safe.”
Jacobs told commissioners “We are in serious trouble. We are down to one intake, one ongoing, and one caseworker.”
Jacobs presented a comparison with Clinton County and said there is a significant difference in the ratio of children per caseworker. “We are almost $700,000 in debt right now,” Jacobs said. “Our donor (who was not identified) has called his note. That will take the first $90,000 of levy funds. At this point, we may not be able to pay foster parents again. I know the county is broke, but I am here again.”
Jacobs said the Children Services workers who have recently resigned cited their reason for resignation as a lack of county support, ongoing furloughs, no pay raises in three years, and large caseloads.
“To operate an efficient agency, additional funding is necessary,” Jacobs said. “Due to the loan against the levy, we will continue to struggle and go further in debt, with the possibility that the foster parents will again not be paid without financial assistance from the county.”
“My concern is, you can only triage certain things,” Rulon said. “It’s kind of a scary time, thinking of the possibility of missing something.”
Rulon referenced a recent fire that claimed two young children, and while he said HCCS was not contacted on this particular family, he said. “It’s those situations when you don’t want to miss something. We can’t do it with our current staffing. It’s just the emergency cases we’re going to.”
“We are putting a Band-Aid on it and moving on. Kids are coming in left and right, we have high unemployment, high drug use, and high criminal activity, and we can’t get to all the cases we need to.”
Jacobs said the spread of heroin in the county “is an epidemic.”
Heaton responded that the economic impact has been felt by many county agencies. “It’s been frustrating for us,” Heaton said. “People just don’t realize we’ve been impacted more than any other county in the area. The state and national media always focus on Wilmington.”
“Our revenue stream is down $2 million,” Horst said. “Our county recorder and county auditor are both taking in less revenue.”
“If we had the money, we would give it to you,” Heaton said.
Jacobs responded, “It’s to the point where we will lose a child. I’m losing my best worker to Clinton County due to pay furloughs and work load.”
Horst replied, “Clinton County has not had the layoffs we have had.”
Commissioners suggested Jacobs seek funding assistance to help compensate foster parents through the Clinton County Foundation.
Commissioners said the foundation had received $1 million from DHL for regional assistance (see www.co.clinton.oh.us).
Commission President Shane Wilkin said he would make a call to Clinton County to see if they would be receptive to Children Services.
“I just want you to be aware of where we are,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs then questioned commissioners on the possibility of Highland County Children’s Services being combined with Job and Family Services.
“We are looking at all options,” Horst said.
“Yes, we are looking at it,” Wilkin added.
“Our staff wants to know if the Children Services administrator will still be there,” Jacobs said.
Wilkin responded, “I think there’s still going to be a Children’s Services administrator.”
“We haven’t decided to do it yet,” Horst said.
“I have asked Judge Greer (Highland County Common Pleas Court Juvenile and Probation Judge Kevin Greer) to call other counties and see how they are operating,” Wilkin said. “Our ultimate responsibility is to the kids and the taxpayers.”
In other business, commissioners said bids are set to go out for painting some areas of the Highland County Courthouse.
Commissioners are also considering a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal lawmakers. The commissioners would pay their own expenses.
Commissioners were also scheduled to meet with Debbie Robbins, director
of the Department of Job and Family Services, in executive session regarding
personnel matters.
Commissioners approved the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:
• The authorization of a transfer to Help Me Grow (County) as follows: from Help-Me-Grow, Reimb., to Help Me Grow (County) in the amount of $10,000.
• The authorization of a modification to the TEC budget as follows: from
Contracts & Services to Contracts & Repairs in the amount of $500.
• The authorization of additional appropriation to the Sheriff's budget
as follows: from Unappropriated Funds (High Visibility Enforcement Grant) to
Sheriff Employee Salaries, in the amount of $4,251.24.
• The approval of the creation of a new Children Services fund to be known as Children Services Emery Fund and the authorization of the following appropriation: from Unappropriated Funds to Children Services Emery Fund, Other Expense, in the amount of $300.
• The approval of a new Children Services fund to be known as Children Services Polk Fund.
• The approval of additional appropriation to the Sheriff's budget as follows: from Unappropriated Funds (Meth Initiative Grant) to Employee Salaries in the amount of $6,749.86.[[In-content Ad]]