a. Social Service bd action ratified

CASS COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICE BOARD MEETING February 6,2006 There being a quorum present, Chairman Pawluk called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. Absent: Scott Wagner, Vem Bennett, Robyn Sorum, Ken Pawluk, Darrell Vanyo, Barbara Holes-Dickson Laurie Dahley Present: Approval of Minutes Ms. Sorum moved and Mr. Vanyo seconded to approve the minutes of the January 3,2006 Board meeting as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Economic Assistance Update Alice Swenson, Supervisor of the Economic Assistance Unit presented an update of the Economic Assistance Unit. There are 40 eligibility workers and 5 support staff and 1 Human Service Aide in the unit. Because of the growing caseloads and not being able to hire staffto handle the work, outside agencies are being used for volunteer services. Currently there are three part time volunteers assisting in assembling informational packets as well as conducting LIHEAP interviews. Current programs administered by the county in this unit are Children's Special Health Services, ND Health Tracks, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Food Stamps, Foster Care (payment), General Assistance, Low Income Home Energy Assistance, Medical Assistance, Child Care Assistance, Covering Kids and Families Enrollment Assistance Project. In December of2005 there were 2905 households (6025 individuals) served in the Food Stamp Program; 8387 individuals in the Health Care programs, 243 households (649 individuals) in TANF, and 447 households (682 individuals) receiving Child Care Assistance benefits. From October 2005 through January 2006, there were 1537 regular applications and 228 applications processed for LIHEAP benefits. From January 2002 through January 2006, there has been an increase of un duplicated households served in Economic Assistance from 4479 to 5653. The average caseload numbers have increased from 124.97 per worker in 1997 to 141.3 presently. During 2005 there was an average of 308 individuals per month requesting services that were screened. In 2005 an average of 90 new cases were assigned each month. The Board discussed the various computer systems that the state has mandated to enter cases. In some cases, the same information is entered into a number of systems, depending on which programs through which the individual is receiving services. Ms. Hogan informed the Board of a ND Dept. of Human Services stakeholder meeting taking place on Friday, February 10 and the Board agreed she should write a position statement regarding the various computer systems.