Title
Adopt Resolution to:
a. Amend the Department of Social Services Budget 001-5010-8262-SOC005 to add one (1) Social Work Supervisor II and four (4) Social Worker V for Social Services Aging and Adult Services;
b. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to incorporate approved budget modifications to the FY 2021-22 Budget 001-5010-SOC005-8262, and the County Administrative Office to reflect these approved changes in the FY 2022-23 Adopted Budget;
c. Approve an increase in appropriations and estimated revenues of $194,359 for the Social Services 001-5010-SOC005-8262 FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget (4/5ths vote required); and
d. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget by increasing appropriations and estimated revenues by $194,359 in the Social Services Budget 001-5010-8262-SOC005 (4/5ths vote required).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt a Resolution to:
a. Amend the Department of Social Services Budget 001-5010-8262-SOC005 to add one (1) Social Work Supervisor II and four (4) Social Worker V for Social Services Aging and Adult Services;
b. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to incorporate approved budget modifications to the FY 2021-22 Budget 001-5010-SOC005-8262, and the County Administrative Office to reflect these approved changes in the FY 2022-23 Adopted Budget;
c. Approve an increase in appropriations and estimated revenues of $194,359 for the Social Services 001-5010-SOC005-8262 FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget (4/5ths vote required); and
d. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget by increasing appropriations and estimated revenues by $194,359 in the Social Services Budget 001-5010-8262-SOC005 (4/5ths vote required).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Department of Social Services (DSS) is requesting to add (1) Social Work Supervisor II and four (4) Social Worker V’s for the Aging and Adult Services programs (three in Adult Protective services and one will be part of the Information, Assistance & Referral team). The State of California passed Assembly Bill 135 which provides Adult Protective Services with additional tools and structure to address the state’s growing aging population and provides $68 million in General Fund across the state, $597,148 is Monterey County’s share. The intent of the bill is to enable the program to provide longer term case management for those with more complex cases and expands APS Multidisciplinary Teams. AB 135 also lowers the eligible age to meet the statutory definition of “elder: for purposes of APS services from age 65 to 60, allowing counties to investigate and provide services to vulnerable adults five years earlier than previously permissible.
The APS referrals and workload has substantially increased as the senior population continues to grow in Monterey County at higher rates than the general population, with one in five residents age 60 or over. This trend is expected to continue along with the number of adults living past 85 years old. The increasing number of APS reports reflect the aging demographics of our County. In the ten-year period from 2010 to 2019, APS reports increased by a staggering 444%. The number of APS reports received in 2019 was more than five times the number received in 2010.
In 2021, the APS Social Workers received over 2,200 reports of alleged abuse and neglect, which was an increase of 17% from 2020.
The increase in the APS workload, impacts the Information & Referral’s workload. Who performs the intake functions by responding to referrals and triaging the cases for assignment to APS workers. Without the additional support of these positions, the APS Social Workers’ ability to meet the State’s mandate for investigating allegations of elder/dependent adult abuse and neglect will be compromised. Social Workers will be unable to respond timely and thoroughly to reports of abuse and neglect, triage client needs, and connect clients and their families to needed resources. The Information, Referral, and Assistance (IRA) Social Workers received 14,376 calls in 2021, which is a 10% increase in calls since 2019. So far this year (2022), approximately 1,369 monthly calls have been received. If this rate of calls continues, we project a total of 16,428 calls this year, which represents 14% increase from 2021. As a result of the high volume of calls and insufficient staff to respond to them, the IRA team has not been able to consistently respond to callers timely. Consequently, the percent of callers who hang-up (abandoned the call) before receiving assistance was 16% in 2021. In 2022, the abandoned telephone rate has increased to 23%, or nearly one (1) in four (4) callers going without speaking to a social worker due to the long wait time.
With the infusion of new funding, these positions will provide the capacity needed to meet the increasing demands in this area strategically and successfully. The Department recommends amending the Department of Social Services Budget Unit 001-5010-SOC005-8262 as follows:
Class Current FTE Revised
Classification Code FTEs Change FTEs
Social Work Supervisor II 60C81 17 1 18
Social Worker V 60C24 81 4 85
TOTAL 98 5 103
Attachment A provides a detailed position breakdown.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Human Resources has approved the request to classify for the new position and County Counsel has approved to form. The County Administrator’s Office - Budget Office reviewed the recommended actions. Due to timing, the recommended action(s) had to run simultaneously with the Budget Committee and the item had not yet been approved before the report was due to the Board of Supervisors. The item is scheduled to be considered on the February 23, 2022 Budget Committee agenda.
FINANCING:
The Departments recommendation is to add five (5) positions within Social Services Aging & Adult Services due to the new funding from AB 135 for Adult Protective Services. These positions will receive approximately 35% federal funding ($310,974) and the state AB 135 ($466,460) will cover the remaining balance. The annual cost of a Social Work Supervisor II is $170,610, and $42,653 pro-rated for three months for FY 2021-22. The annual cost of four (4) Social Worker V’s is $606,824, and $151,706 pro-rated for three months for FY 2021-22. The combination of all five (5) positions costs $777,434 annually, and $194,359 pro-rated for three months.
The Department is requesting an increase of $194,359 in appropriations and estimated revenues for the position changes in the department’s current FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget (001-5010-SOC005).
The positions are fully funded and recommended actions will not require additional County General Fund contributions (GFC) in DSS in the current or next fiscal year as any additional costs will be managed within the Department’s allocated GFC.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This action correlates to the Administration Strategic Initiative adopted by the Board of Supervisors by providing the adequate staffing to meet the program needs for the community, department and meet the mandated State requirements.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
__Economic Development
X Administration
X Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by: Becky Cromer, Finance Manager III, x4404
Approved by: Lori Medina, Social Services Director, x4430
Attachments: Proposed Resolution
Attachment A
Proposed Resolution and Attachment are on file with the Clerk of the Board as an attachment to this Board Report.