d. Social Service legis issues - Laserfiche WebLink

services results in disproportionate resources from county to county. The primary disadvantage of funding of county based child welfare services would be the need for additional dollars. In addition, there may continue to be a lack of appropriate support services such as treatment and/or legal resources to assure minimum standards. Resolution adopted in 2004 by Cass County Regarding Unfunded Mandates for Child Welfare 2004 Child Welfare Funding We urge the ND Legislature to fund mandated child welfare services at 75% of cost and to allow counties that are unable to assure quality services to decline to be responsible for all or some mandated services. Unfunded Mandate Indian County Funding - SWAP Current Structure/History In 1997, the ND legislature restructured the overall funding relationship for economic assistance (grant benefits/local administrative costs) to clarify roles/responsibility. A critical concern was the potential negative impact on Indian Counties. (Counties that have a dispropotionate number of recipients and limited tax resources because of reservation land). In 1999, follow-up legislation was implemented that assured that disproportionate costs were funded through state general funds or general fund equivalents. The original intent was to fund costs above the average mill levy at 100% but during the last two biennium's, these costs have only been funded at 90% thus eroding the overall funding for these high need counties. Resolution Adopted in 2004 by Cass County Regarding Indian County funding 2004 Indian County funding Because of significant social needs and limited property tax availability for funding of local services, Cass County Social Services supports the full state/federal funding of Indian county economic assistance programs as originally outlined in the SWAP legislation. County involvement in eligibility determination of Healthy Steps Current Structure/History Eligibility determination of Healthy Steps (a health insurance programs for low/moderate income families) is determined by one staff person in the Department of Human Services except for a pilot project in Cass County. Healthy Steps is in a very basic data base system that does not easily allow numerous staff to be involved in eligibility. Currently, a merged Healthy Steps/Medicaid computer system is being developed that would allow for broader involvement of more staff. Administrative costs for determination of