AG 2005 02 21 - Laserfiche WebLink

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We did utilize new State funding in the amount of $198,000 annually to add three social workers and one supervisor to our CPS staff in November. Those new staff are reporting to work now and in the coming days. It had been our belief, until the events of the past two months or so, that this additional staff would provide the resources needed on an ongoing basis, given the level of reports we had to investigate through the first three quarters of CY04. The final quarter of CY04 did see a 45% increase over the average for the prior three quarters. Still, assuming that the 542 reports investigated in that quarter represent an aberration, as best we can determine, once we can work down the caseloads now being carried, these new positions should provide us the capacity to maintain caseloads at the one to twelve ratio, except when staff turnover is taken into account. Request One significant step we need to take now is to create the capacity to accommodate the vacancies we experience among Child Protective Services (CPS) staff in such a way that remaining CPS staff do not have to carry caseloads in excess of the one social worker to twelve cases ratio. Staff turnover is a problem here as it is with CPS programs across the State. We have found that many counties have staffed their CP$ programs in such a Way as to cover for vacancies. We have completed a review of the average number of CPS social work positions we have had vacant at any point in time over the past two years. The average is three social workers, It would thus take three additional social worker positions to provide this capacity to cover our average number of vacancies. We have relied heavily on temps to cover our vacancies. The unavailability of temporary staff qualified to do this work, and the coverage lost in the process of identifying and putting on temps, makes that approach un-effective and no longer acceptable. An increased capacity to provide management to the program in the area of training, supervision, quality control, community partnering, and program improvement initiatives is also apparent. We deleted a program manager position responsible for the Child Protective Services program when the Department experienced budget problems in March of 2002. The size of the Children's Division and the intensity of supervision and management required to provide an acceptable level of quality and effectiveness are such that this position is necessary. We need to restore this. position, and had planned tor equest t his asp art 0 f the Department's county budget request for F Y06. However, current needs of the program reflect that this addition should be made immediately. I am requesting that the BOC approve the creation of three Grade 70 CPS Social Worker positions and one Grade 74 Program Manager position effective 3-4-05, the earliest date on which we think that we could complete recruitment and selection of staff. The attached organization chart reflects the requested program manager position as well as the three social worker positions. The cost for the remainder of FY05 (from 3- 4-05) for these positions would be $65,993. The annual Cdst would be $212,440. In the current year, we could cover the costs of these positions' from lapsed salary and benefit funds. We have, however, prepared a budget amendment request reflecting an additional appropriation of County funding to offset this expense should you and the BOC decide to cover the costs in that manner. For FY06, we have not identified as yet additional revenues which would offset the annualized cost. We will, in the budget Cabarrus County DSS .. 1303 South CannOJ' Blvd Kannapolls, North carO.lina 28083 Telephone Number: 704-920-140tr FAX Number: 704-920-1401 r:~4-