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Director Ferguson will gather an update on the status of some of the redesign projects since <br />they were halted for COVID but various state departments are getting their 2124 projects back <br />up and running. This will give an understanding and idea of the additional responsibilities on the <br />staff. For example, the state is rolling out the “Practice Model” which is a guidance for child <br />welfare across the state this is aimed at providing guidance for continuity across the state. <br />The state is hiring a Director of Zone Operations. They have narrowed the candidates down and <br />will be completing interviews over the next couple weeks. The zone directors will be reporting <br />relationship within conjunction with the Human Service Board. The Directors have been <br />informed one of the first initiatives is to develop and deliver zone board training. <br />Director Ferguson will attend other zone board meetings in August to see if there are any <br />elements which should be added to this meeting’s agenda which would add information and be <br />beneficial. <br />Mr. Pawluk would like information on case load leveling described in the report. Director <br />Ferguson addressed the two elements in economic assistance caseloads which have been <br />historically high due to the large population. There have been discrepancies due to staff <br />turnover which means staff carry larger caseloads. The case load leveling refers to when there is <br />a staff vacancy. When there is a vacancy the zone it is required to reach out to the other zones <br />to ask if they can take any additional cases. It is a collaborative level between the zones. The <br />amount of cases taken by each zone is based on their capacity. The understanding is the states <br />has a vision to implement a process management plan which would allow applications to <br />process like an assembly line. This will allow employees to specialize in their part of the <br />application. This should increase efficiencies and ease the employee’s caseload. The meeting <br />was to occur July 22, 2020 but the state pushed it back. Director Ferguson is interested to see <br />what this looks like to benefit discrepancies such as the load of cases between a senior vs a <br />junior employee. There is hesitation and concern customer service may go away when dealing <br />with a portion application instead of the whole so this will have to be balanced. <br />Mr. Peterson reintroduced the idea of alternate hours for clients which was discussed in the <br />past and he would like to know Director Ferguson’s thoughts in regard to more flexible hours for <br />clients. To be added to a future agenda. <br />IV.Adjournment <br />Mr. Pawluk made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 2:34 p.m. Mr. Peterson seconded. <br />Motion carried. <br />______________________________________ ________________________________ <br />Pearl Ferguson, Zone Director Blair Hodge, Recorder <br />Cass County Human Services Zone Board