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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 020-2022 to add one (1.0) Full Time Equivalent Social Worker I/II allocation in the HHSA Housing and Disability Advocacy Program in Self Sufficiency division.
FUNDING: 100% Housing and Disability Advocacy Program Noncompetitive Allocation, State General Fund with no match requirements.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On June 22, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 Personnel Allocation Resolution 064-2021, thereafter amended September 28, 2021 by Resolution 124-2021 which reflects HHSA’s personnel allocations for FY 2021-22.
Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) was established by Assembly Bill 1603 (Chapter 25, Statutes of 2016) and updated by Senate Bill (SB) 80 (Chapter 27, Statutes 2019) to assist people experiencing homelessness who are likely eligible for disability benefits by providing advocacy for disability benefits as well as housing supports. HDAP has four core requirements: outreach, case management, disability advocacy, and housing assistance. California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has allocated a FY 2021-22 Noncompetitive Allocation amount of $625,238 for El Dorado County. The case management needs of the program are time intensive and require a higher level of skill for crisis intervention, problem solving, and program planning. To meet workload needs and provide an appropriate level of services to clients, HHSA is requesting staffing the program with a new Social Worker I/ll - FTE. The duties for this Social Worker I/II position are new to Self Sufficiency. The addition of this position will provide adequate levels of staffing to meet required HDAP activities, including Outreach, Case Management, Disability Benefits Advocacy, Housing Assistance and data collection.
The primary purpose of this position is to provide housing supports and disability advocacy to people likely eligible for disability benefits and experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. This position will include conducting internal and external outreach and will provide a higher level of skilled intensive case management to HDAP participants to better support the complex and traumatic nature of HDAP casework.
The new 1.0 Social Worker I/II - FTE position will be in the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) in the Self Sufficiency division of Social Services. Though this is technically one-time State funding, the State has offered HDAP annually to Counties that have accepted the funding, for many years. As such, it is expected that this source of funding will be ongoing, and therefore it will provide an opportunity to add this additional staff person to increase service levels in El Dorado County.
Working directly with the Human Resources Department, HHSA has developed the attached Personnel Allocation Resolution which was approved by County Counsel on January 4, 2022.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could decline to adopt and authorize the Chair to sign the attached Personnel Allocation, thereby retaining the current allocations. If the position is not approved, El Dorado County would potentially need to return the allocation back to the State. The allocation was accepted by the Board on November 16, 2021, with Legistar item 21-1691, as part of the 2021 update to the annual Public Housing Authority Administrative Plan.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
June 7, 2021, File ID: 21-0922; Agenda No. 1 “CAO Budget Hearing”
June 22, 2021, File ID: 21-0994; Agenda No. 4 “Personnel Allocation”
September 28, 2021, File ID: 21-1519; Agenda No. 2 “CAO Budget Adoption”
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Human Resources, County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the addition of this position. The Social Worker I/II will add annually $100,900 to the budget with approximately $42,000 in the remainder of Fiscal Year 2021-22. This additional position will be funded 100% by HDAP; sufficient appropriations are included in the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Obtain signature of Chair on the attached Resolution.
2) Provide one (1) certified Resolution to HHSA-Contracts at 3057 Briw Rd and one (1) certified Resolution to Heather Andersen in Human Resources at 330 Fair Lane.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director, Health and Human Services Agency