Commissioners address Children Services relocation
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Highland County commissioners addressed the relocation of Highland County Children Services to the Department of Job and Family Services at their May 18 meeting.
On Dec. 29, 2010, the Highland County Board of Commissioners voted, 3-0, to merge the Highland County Children Services agency with the Highland County Department of Job and Family Services. At that time, commissioners agreed that Job and Family Services Director Debbie Robbins would lead the transition.
The transition is to be completed by June 30, 2011, commissioners said.
On May 11, Children Services Director Wendy Jacobs sent a letter to the commissioners addressing concerns about the pending move.
Jacobs wrote: "Highland County Children Services is requesting assistance in the physical move to JFS. There are several tasks that need to be accomplished, and the current staff does not have the time to complete them. With current caseload sizes, the staff are already working overtime weekly to meet mandates.
"Please contact the agency as to who will complete the tasks by what date. Probationers cannot be used to perform some of the tasks, as the files will be accessible to those that are boxing them, and many of the probationers do, or have had, cases with the agency. Some tasks will require the individuals to sign confidentiality agreements and should have no criminal history or children services history for security reasons.
"The agency would further like information on the expense of the move," Jacobs said. "This was a decision made by the county commissioners, and the agency did not budget for the expense involved. It is the understanding of the agency and Children Services Board that any cost incurred would be county responsibility. Highland County Children Services cannot use levy funding to support the move and supplies involved."
On May 18, Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeremy Shaffer responded as follows: "As we face reduced income from the state, we must find ways to leverage and stretch every dollar to ensure not only the survival of the Children Services agency and all Job & Family Services social programs, but most importantly, to meet the needs of children and adults in need in Highland County. We are about to make a major change in the structure of Children Services by merging with Job and Family Services.
"This change is vital for the continuation of adequate care for the children of this county. The expanded agency will include Adult Protective Services, Pregnancy Related Services, Child Care, Non-emergency Transportation, Foster/Adoption and Child Protective Services and will offer a one-stop-shop to those requiring assistance.
"It is a time to act and perform as a team with everyone focused on the same goal: to guarantee the success of our social service programs at all levels. At this crucial time, it is the responsibility of everyone involved to be supportive of not only the merge but of each other and to make this a positive experience," commissioners said.
"The physical move to the current Job & Family Services location will not be easy, but with a team effort, we can make it a productive and possibly enjoyable event. We are asking for volunteers to help pack office items, supervise the move and set up the new Children Services office. Probationers will perform the heavy lifting with agency supervision. The Board of Commissioners will provide a truck, boxes, duct tape and packing materials.
"Please let us know by June 14 if we can count on you to be part of the "Packing Team" on June 16, starting at 4 p.m. at the Children Services current location. All of you control the outcome of the merger of Children Services with Job & Family Services, and your participation is crucial for its success. With our cooperation and with all of us working toward the same goal, we can make the move quickly and seamlessly. We depend upon your support and appreciate your cooperation."
* * *
• In other correspondence, Highland County Board of Development Disabilities Superintendent Chuck Biggert informed commissioners that "longtime employee and friend" Sherry Morrison's second retirement date is Friday, June 3.
"In December 2009, Sherry retired with 32 years of excellent service from the Highland County Board of DD. In January 2010, Sherry was rehired on a one-year contract, per her desire to assist the board for an additional two or three years, which met our program needs," Biggert said.
"We will greatly miss Sherry," he added.
Biggert also informed commissioners, "In another matter that also influenced the proposed date of June 3, our expected fiscal loss of revenue for 2011 is approximately $147,000 ($87,000 loss in subsidies from the DODD and $60,000 loss with the reduction in TPP Tax [TPPT Loss - Approximately $60,000 a year for a total of $235,436 through 2014."
* * *
Commissioners passed the following resolutions, by 2-0, with Wilkin and Horst voting in the affirmative. Shaffer arrived at the meeting after the resolutions had passed, but said he had no objections to either of them.
• The board authorized the April 2011 mandated distribution of Child Support Enforcement Agency Administrative Account funds (C-00) to the Public Assistance Account (H-00) as follows: From: 0280-0000-C45.080, Child Support, Reimbursement To: Public Assistance (H-00), in the amount of $11,505.98.
• The board authorized an additional appropriation to the Pre-Trial Supervision budget (T-29) as follows: From: Unappropriated funds To: 0429-T029-T07.090, Operating Expense for $3,454.09.[[In-content Ad]]
On Dec. 29, 2010, the Highland County Board of Commissioners voted, 3-0, to merge the Highland County Children Services agency with the Highland County Department of Job and Family Services. At that time, commissioners agreed that Job and Family Services Director Debbie Robbins would lead the transition.
The transition is to be completed by June 30, 2011, commissioners said.
On May 11, Children Services Director Wendy Jacobs sent a letter to the commissioners addressing concerns about the pending move.
Jacobs wrote: "Highland County Children Services is requesting assistance in the physical move to JFS. There are several tasks that need to be accomplished, and the current staff does not have the time to complete them. With current caseload sizes, the staff are already working overtime weekly to meet mandates.
"Please contact the agency as to who will complete the tasks by what date. Probationers cannot be used to perform some of the tasks, as the files will be accessible to those that are boxing them, and many of the probationers do, or have had, cases with the agency. Some tasks will require the individuals to sign confidentiality agreements and should have no criminal history or children services history for security reasons.
"The agency would further like information on the expense of the move," Jacobs said. "This was a decision made by the county commissioners, and the agency did not budget for the expense involved. It is the understanding of the agency and Children Services Board that any cost incurred would be county responsibility. Highland County Children Services cannot use levy funding to support the move and supplies involved."
On May 18, Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeremy Shaffer responded as follows: "As we face reduced income from the state, we must find ways to leverage and stretch every dollar to ensure not only the survival of the Children Services agency and all Job & Family Services social programs, but most importantly, to meet the needs of children and adults in need in Highland County. We are about to make a major change in the structure of Children Services by merging with Job and Family Services.
"This change is vital for the continuation of adequate care for the children of this county. The expanded agency will include Adult Protective Services, Pregnancy Related Services, Child Care, Non-emergency Transportation, Foster/Adoption and Child Protective Services and will offer a one-stop-shop to those requiring assistance.
"It is a time to act and perform as a team with everyone focused on the same goal: to guarantee the success of our social service programs at all levels. At this crucial time, it is the responsibility of everyone involved to be supportive of not only the merge but of each other and to make this a positive experience," commissioners said.
"The physical move to the current Job & Family Services location will not be easy, but with a team effort, we can make it a productive and possibly enjoyable event. We are asking for volunteers to help pack office items, supervise the move and set up the new Children Services office. Probationers will perform the heavy lifting with agency supervision. The Board of Commissioners will provide a truck, boxes, duct tape and packing materials.
"Please let us know by June 14 if we can count on you to be part of the "Packing Team" on June 16, starting at 4 p.m. at the Children Services current location. All of you control the outcome of the merger of Children Services with Job & Family Services, and your participation is crucial for its success. With our cooperation and with all of us working toward the same goal, we can make the move quickly and seamlessly. We depend upon your support and appreciate your cooperation."
* * *
• In other correspondence, Highland County Board of Development Disabilities Superintendent Chuck Biggert informed commissioners that "longtime employee and friend" Sherry Morrison's second retirement date is Friday, June 3.
"In December 2009, Sherry retired with 32 years of excellent service from the Highland County Board of DD. In January 2010, Sherry was rehired on a one-year contract, per her desire to assist the board for an additional two or three years, which met our program needs," Biggert said.
"We will greatly miss Sherry," he added.
Biggert also informed commissioners, "In another matter that also influenced the proposed date of June 3, our expected fiscal loss of revenue for 2011 is approximately $147,000 ($87,000 loss in subsidies from the DODD and $60,000 loss with the reduction in TPP Tax [TPPT Loss - Approximately $60,000 a year for a total of $235,436 through 2014."
* * *
Commissioners passed the following resolutions, by 2-0, with Wilkin and Horst voting in the affirmative. Shaffer arrived at the meeting after the resolutions had passed, but said he had no objections to either of them.
• The board authorized the April 2011 mandated distribution of Child Support Enforcement Agency Administrative Account funds (C-00) to the Public Assistance Account (H-00) as follows: From: 0280-0000-C45.080, Child Support, Reimbursement To: Public Assistance (H-00), in the amount of $11,505.98.
• The board authorized an additional appropriation to the Pre-Trial Supervision budget (T-29) as follows: From: Unappropriated funds To: 0429-T029-T07.090, Operating Expense for $3,454.09.[[In-content Ad]]