Human Services Agency

Transcription

1 Joseph Chelli, Director Increase/ General Fund Actual Approved Requested Recommended (Decrease) Expenditures Salaries & Benefits $65,700,560 $78,918,178 $81,390,796 $81,230,261 $2,312,083 Services & Supplies 41,366,027 46,738,824 43,838,743 43,567,761 (3,171,063) Other Charges 177,223, ,431, ,184, ,184,090 (5,247,615) Fixed Assets 315,329 50, , , ,142 Operating Transfers Out (1,045,675) Total Expenditures $283,559,732 $312,139,065 $306,822,129 $306,390,612 ($5,748,453) Expenditure Reimbursements (635,358) (470,617) (664,867) (664,867) (194,250) Total Appropriations $282,924,373 $311,668,448 $306,157,262 $305,725,745 ($5,942,703) Earned Revenues By Source Aid from Other Governments $267,117,690 $292,287,660 $292,740,748 $292,524,990 $237,330 Miscellaneous Revenues 639, ,304 96,304 96,304 (600,000) Operating Transfers In 1,095,249 1,130,000 1,060,000 1,060,000 (70,000) Total Revenues $268,852,809 $294,113,964 $293,897,052 $293,681,294 ($432,670) Net County Cost $14,071,565 $17,554,484 $12,260,210 $12,044,451 ($5,510,033) Allocated Positions Temporary (Full-Time Equivalent) Total Staffing Purpose The Agency (HSA) provides State and federal-mandated public assistance and a variety of social service programs for the citizens of San Joaquin County. Programs include: California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CaIWORKs), Foster Care, Food Stamps, General Assistance, Medi-Cal, Adoptions, Child Protective Services, Adult Protective Services, Refugee Assistance, and the Mary Graham Children's Shelter. Federal and State legislation and local regulations govern the methods by which resources of the Agency are allocated. This budget reflects the combined administrative and financial assistance program costs, and funding for the public assistance programs administered by the HSA. Major Budget Changes Salaries & Employee Benefits ~ ($2,330,335) Negotiated salary and benefits adjustments. ~ $2,764,710 Add 39 new positions. ~ $2,097,373 Full-year cost of 28 Eligibility Workers and 4 Eligibility Supervisors added midyear ~ $54,307 Increase in extra-help. ~ ($273,972) Decrease in overtime expenses reflecting actual experience. Services & Supplies ~ $1,379,888 Increase in CalWORKs contracted employment, mental health, and substance abuse services reflecting projected demand. G-5

2 ~ $388,371 Increase in equipment and software ~ $500,097 lease costs due to increased staffmg and State computer refresh. ~ ($3,504,468) Decrease in Cal WORKs child care expenses reflecting State program- ~ $302,569 matic changes. ~ ($560,000) Decrease in bus passes and mileage reimbursements for CalWORKs participants reflecting projected demand. ~ ($318,757) Decrease in professional services Fixed Assets ~ ($298,581) based upon actual experience. Elimination of unused telephone ~ $275,000 lines. ~ $40,000 ~ ($120,999) Decrease in Fleet Services charges ~ $37,500 due to expected usage. ~ ($284,162) Cost Allocation Plan adjustment. ~ $30,000 ~ $8,000 Other Charges ~ $6,000 ~ ($3,897,863) Decrease in CalWORKs assistance payments reflecting reduced time ~ $6,000 limits per case. ~ $3,000 Increase in General Assistance payments reflecting 8% anticipated caseload growth, and a 7% cost-percase increase. Increase in In-Home Supportive Services CIHSS) assistance payments reflecting 3% caseload growth and 3.6% increase in authorized hours. Boiler. Data communication switches (10). Laptop computers (25). Lobby kiosks (5). Computer lab furniture (5). Projectors (2). Color printers (2). Security camera. ~ ($2,651,414) Decrease in Foster Care assistance payments reflecting a reduction in ~ $3,000 Badge printer. group home placements. Expenditure Reimbursements ~ $603,361 Increase in Adoptions Assistance payments reflecting a 2% case load. ~ $167,691 Reimbursements for growth. AB 109 services provided. Workload Data* Actual Est.lAct. Projected Cal WORKs Assistance 191, , , , ,119 Foster Care Foster Home 5,972 5,278 5,309 5,096 5,354 Institutions 2,298 2,320 2,010 2,229 1,785 Foster Family Agencies 6,532 6,118 6,030 5,905 5,610 Adoption Assistance 23,508 24,406 21,325 23,745 24,124 General Assistance 20,077 20,181 18,995 21,274 22,976 In-Home Supportive Services 80,551 75,649 71,310 70,100 72,400 Refugee Cash Assistance Temporary Homeless Shelter 6,772 5,709 5,973 6,692 6,960 *All Workload Data represent case months of service delivered. G-6

3 Revenues ~ $5,165,190 Increase in State realignment revenues for HSA programs. ~ $1,837,523 Increase in State and federal reimbursements for staffing and administration costs. ~ $1,515,952 Increase in IHSS federal share of reimbursements. ~ $434,904 Increase in State and federal reimbursements for Adoptions Assistance based on caseload growth. ~ ($3,504,468) Decrease in State and federal reimbursements reflecting child care program changes. ~ ($3,800,416) Decrease in CalWORKs State and federal reimbursements based on projected program costs. ~ ($1,216,768) Decrease in State and federal reimbursements for Foster Care reflecting anticipated placements. ~ ($600,000) Decrease in State reimbursements due to suspension of County share of child support collection payments. Program Discussion The recommended budget for the Human Services Agency totals $306,390,612, which is a decrease of $5,748,453 from Administration The Administrative budget contains administrative costs for the operation of all Agency programs and totals $125,607,655, which is a decrease of $775,342 from The decrease is primarily due to a reduction of $2.3 million salary and benefits costs as a result ofnegotiated employee concessions, and a $3.5 million decrease in CalWORKs child care costs due to State programmatic changes. The decrease is partially offset by the addition of 32 positions added midyear , and the following 39 new positions included in the recommended budget to address workload growth due to increases in applications for assistance and changes in State regulations. The cost of these 71 positions totals $4.8 million in : ~ Eligibility Workers (21) ~ Eligibility Supervisors (3) ~ Social Workers (13) ~ Social Worker Supervisor (1) ~ Accountant (1) 1000 Staffing Trend Five-Year Increase: 8.3l!~ % % % % "_ r emporary (FIE) Base Year Alleeared PosWons G-7

4 The recommended budget also includes the deletion of two In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Fraud Prevention Program positions. The IHSS Fraud Prevention Program is a collaborative effort between HSA and the District Attorney's Office to discover and collect overpayments, and investigate and prosecute fraud. In , State funding for this program was eliminated as part of the State's trigger cuts. HSA Administration is organized into five internal bureaus: Income Maintenance; Child Welfare Services; Employment and Youth Services; Adult and Community Services; and Administrative Services. Income Maintenance Bureau The Income Maintenance Bureau is responsible for determining, issuing, and maintaining the correct and timely federal and State mandated benefits for the CaIWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Assistance, Foster Care, and Refugee Assistance programs. As a result of the continued economic recession, outreach efforts, and changes in State regulations, HSA has experienced significant increases in applications for assistance and continuing case load maintenance. In , the number of Cal WORKs, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal recipients increased 27%. In , these programs are anticipated to increase an additional 26% in participants. In response to the low CalFresh program participation statewide, HSA has been working closely with the Hunger Task Force to increase program accessibility. HSA has been collaborating with Stockton Emergency Food Bank and Catholic Charities Diocese of Stockton to conduct outreach to the underserved population and to assist with the application process. HSA has also provided a grant of $50,000 to Catholic Charities, and trained community-based organizations on basic CalFresh eligibility. In , HSA will work with Health Care Services to assist with the upcoming implementation of the Low Income Health Program (UHP) in San Joaquin County. The Governor's proposal to move the Healthy Families program to Medi-Cal could also add approximately 20,000 children to the existing Medi-Cal caseload. Child Welfare Services Bureau The Child Welfare Services (CWS) Bureau is responsible for services that ensure the safety, permanency, and well being of children who have been abused or neglected. Major components of the CWS programs include: Child Abuse Prevention; Emergency Response; Family Preservation; Family Maintenance; Family Reunification; Permanent Placement; Adoption, and Independent Living. Each CWS component requires specific in-person service delivery by social work staff to prevent or remedy neglect or abuse. Ongoing case management services assist in the development of basic life skills to keep families intact, or to develop alternate family structures when the child cannot safely remain at home. Adoption services provide permanency options for children who are unable to be reunified with birth families. The Independent Living Program provides foster youth with education and other supportive services designed to help transition youth from foster care to living independently. Employment & youth Services Bureau The Employment and Youth Services Bureau provides employment, education, and training services under the CalWORKs program. Federal and State assistance available to CalWORKs participants is subject to time limits of no more than four years for able-bodied adults, with stringent requirements for participation in Welfare-to-Work (WTW) activities leading to self-sufficiency. Participation includes job preparation and placement services, work experience, employment activities, vocational training and education, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and community services. To compliment ongoing WTW services, a partnership with the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce, and the Employment and Economic Development Department, was developed to provide the Stockton Chamber Apprenticeship Program (SCAP) for CalWORKs participants. Under SCAP, the Chamber identifies potential job openings in the area and works with the case managers to place CalWORKs participants with employers. Employers who hire CalWORKs participants through SCAP may be reimbursed for up to 50% of the wages paid, for up to six months. The employer is expected to retain the participant upon successful completion of SCAP. Adult & Community Services The Adult and Community Services Bureau provides mandated services to abused, neglected, exploited, and disabled adults to prevent or reduce inappropriate institutional care. The Bureau also helps individuals achieve and maintain the highest level of independence, self-support, and self-sufficiency within their range and scope of their capabilities. Mandated services for adults include: information and referral, IHSS, and Adult Protective Services. The Affordable Care Act of2010 established a new State Plan Option named the Community First Choice Option (CFCO). This State Plan Option provides home and community-based attendant services and support. Upon federal approval of the State Plan, it is anticipated that the estimated federal savings may be shared by the State and County. Once implemented, IHSS recipients currently in the Personal Care Services Program and IHSS Plus Option program will be transitioned into CFCO. The recommended budget adds two Social Worker positions to address the anticipated increased workload related to the G-8

5 implementation of the CFCO. In addition, the State postponed the implementation date of the upgraded IHSS payroll system, called Case Management Infonnation Payroll System (CMIPS II), due to further testing that needs to be done prior to implementing the first phase, and then six to nine months for each subsequent phase. The County plans to transition to the new CMIPS II payroll system in Administrative Services Bureau The Administrative Services Bureau provides support services throughout the Agency and includes the following functional areas: Policies and Procedures; Staff Development and Training; Infonnation Systems; Fiscal and Accounting; Quality Control; Fair Hearings; Benefit Recovery; Collections; Personnel; Reception and Benefit Issuance; and Staff Support. HSA Fiscal and Accounting staff prepare and submit monthly and quarterly fiscal claims and statistical reports to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and provide accounting and fiscal support to all areas of the Agency. The following are changes projected for the various assistance programs administered by HSA: CalWORKs Assistance ($101,252,142) The Cal WORKs program is the largest cash assistance program for children and families, providing fmancial help to families to meet basic needs (shelter, food, and clothing) when they are unable to meet those needs on their own. The Program represents a welfare system based upon principles that place high value on recipients obtaining work. Eligible families must include a child under age 18, who lacks parental care and support due to absence, death, incapacity, or the unemployment of one or both parents. CalWORKs assistance is time limited for most adults, and most recipients are required to work or participate in WTW activities for a minimum number of hours per week. The necessary supportive services, including child care, are provided to ensure employment is possible. The amount of a family's monthly assistance payment depends on a number of factors, including the number of people who are eligible, and the special needs of any of those family members. The income of the family is considered in calculating the amount of cash aid the family receives. The recommended budget includes a decrease of $3,897,863 from The budget reflects the impact of State programmatic changes that became effective July 1,2011, including a statutory Maximum Aid Payment decrease of 8%, and the reduction of the CalWORKs time limit for adults from 60 to 48 months. This decrease is partially offset by a projected 7% increase in new applications based upon current experience. The Governor's proposed budget includes significant and complex programmatic changes that could reduce caseloads and expenditures. The Governor proposes to restructure the CalWORKs program into three components: CalWORKs Basic, CalWORKs Plus, and a new Child Maintenance Program. ~ Under CalWORKs Basic, the time limit will be reduced from 48 to 24 months for all recipients not meeting the federal work participation rate (WPR) through unsubsidized employment. All currentlyaided eligible adults not currently meeting federal WPR will continue to be eligible for up to six months of WTW and child care services following implementation of CalWORKs Basic. ~ Under CalWORKs Plus, recipients meeting the federal WPR through unsubsidized employment will be able to continue to receive up to 48 months of aid and services. Recipients in CalWORKs Plus will receive a higher earned income that will remain in effect for recipients in the safety net as long as they continue to meet federal WPR. ~ The proposed Child Maintenance Program will provide aid to children whose parents are not eligible for aid under the restructured CalWORKs program. Recipients in the Child Maintenance Program who meet the federal WPR and who have not exhausted 48 months of aid can re-enter CalWORKs Plus. Other proposed changes include a 27% cut to child-only grants, and a new $50 per month supplemental work bonus to working families receiving CalFresh benefits or child care, but who are not in the Cal WORKs program. These changes are not reflected in the recommended County budget, pending the adoption of the final State budget. Foster Care ($36,507,072) The Foster Care Program provides support payments for children in out-of-home care. This Program is administered by counties in accordance with regulations, standards, and procedures set by CDSS as authorized by law. The Out-of-Home Care System is designed to protect those children who cannot safely remain with family. Most are removed from their parents and made dependents of the court. A smaller number are wards of Juvenile Probation or live with legal guardians. Some are voluntarily placed in out-of-home care by their parents. Currently, these children are placed in family homes with relatives, in licensed foster family homes, in homes certified by foster family agencies, and in group homes. Relatives are given preference over other types of G-9

6 placements. All providers for these children, except relatives and legal guardians, are studied and licensed to provide care. A written case plan is developed for each child and family to ensure care and protection consistent with the best interests and special needs of the child in mind. The plan includes a judicial or administrative review every six months to determine if out-of-home care is still required. Independent living training and services are available to teens ages 16 to 24, providing job and career development skills needed to live independently. In 2010 Assembly Bill 12 (AB 12) was signed into law, extending foster care benefits to youth turning 18 up through age 21. To be eligible to receive extended foster care benefits, youth must be in foster care prior to age 18. AB 12 is being implemented on a graduated schedule. The extension of benefits up to age 19 went into effect January 1,2012. The extension of benefits will increase to age 20 on January 1,2013. Contingent on the availability of funds and approval of the legislature, the CDSS may extend benefits up to age 21 on January 1,2014. The recommended budget includes a decrease of $2,651,414 from , reflecting a 9% cost per case reduction. The reduction in the cost per case is attributed to decreases in group home and foster family agency placements. The recommended budget also assumes a 4% reduction in case load based on current experience. This decrease is partially offset by a statutory 3.23% cost-ofliving increase for children in foster family home and group home placements, and costs associated with the continued implementation of AB 12. Adoptions Assistance ($21,671,676) The Adoptions Assistance Program (AAP) was developed to encourage the adoption of special needs children and remove the financial disincentives for families to adopt. If the child is deemed eligible, an adoption assistance agreement, or a deferred adoption assistance agreement is executed with the adoptive parents, prior to the adoption fmalization. A reassessment of the child's needs and family's circumstances is conducted every two years. The amount of fmancial assistance is determined based upon the special needs of the child and circumstances of the family. Foster care youth adopted after age 16 who receive AAP benefits may continue to receive the benefit through age 21. The intent of the extended AAP benefit is to help youth with special needs maintain a safety net as they transition to independence. The recommended budget includes an increase of $603,361 from This increase reflects a 2% caseload growth based on current experience and added costs associated with AB 12. The budget also includes a statutory cost-of-living increase of3.23%. These cost increases are partially offset by an estimated 5% cost per case reduction associated with the periodic reassessment to ensure funding for services are reflective of the needs of the children. General Assistance ($3,733,399) The General Assistance (GA) Program provides relief and support to indigent adults who are not supported by their own means, other public funds, or other assistance programs. California counties are required to administer a GA Program. The authority to defme and develop the GA Program is delegated to each County Board of Supervisors by State law. Participants repay GA payments by working a specified number of hours each month in the GA Work Program. Repayments may also be made by collecting proceeds from the sale of real property, withholding an amount equal to the GA interim assistance payments from a lump sum Social Security award, or collecting from a sponsor. The GA Program is funded 100% by the County. The recommended budget includes an increase of $500,097, reflecting an anticipated 8% case load increase and a 7% cost per case increase based upon current experience. Of the anticipated caseload increase, 5% is related to the impact of Assembly Bill (AB) 109 Public Safety Realignment. AB 109 increased the number of offenders released from State prison to County-level supervision. In an effort to assist the offender to productively re-enter society, HSA screens for potential eligibility to public assistance programs. These include CaIWORKs, CalFresh, and GA in the newly established AB 109 Assessment Center. In-Home Supportive Services ($16,178,118) The IHSS Program provides specified supportive services to enable eligible persons to remain in their own homes as an alternative to out-of-home care, such as nursing homes, or board-and-care facilities. Eligible persons are aged, blind, or disabled recipients of public assistance and similar persons with low incomes. Disabled children are also eligible for IHSS. Services include domestic services; meal preparation; laundry; shopping and errands; personal care services; assistance while traveling to medical appointments or to other sources of supportive services; protective supervision; teaching and demonstration directed at reducing the need for supportive services; and certain paramedical services ordered by a physician. The recommended budget includes an increase of $302,569, and assumes a 3.3% increase in caseloads based on State projections, plus an additional 3.6% increase in hours due to the sunset of AB 1612, which temporarily decreased service hours by 3.6% from February 1, 2011, G-10

7 through June 30, The budget also includes an additional 6% in federal reimbursement from the CFCO, which results in a $1.3 million reduction in County cost. However, federal approval is still pending and costs would increase if California's CFCO proposal is not approved. The Governor's May Revision includes a 7% across-theboard reduction in authorized hours effective August 1, 2012; elimination of domestic and related services to recipients living with others in a shared household situation; and a pilot program to enroll all dual-eligible beneficiaries of Medicare and Medi-Cal into a managed care plan. These changes are not reflected in the recommended County budget, pending the adoption of the fmal State budget. Temporary Homeless Shelter ($765,683) Families who are eligible for CalWORKs and are homeless can apply for a special need payment to meet costs for temporary and permanent housing. The maximum homeless assistance payment is based on the size of Cal WORKs family. Homeless Assistance is available only once-in-alifetime, unless the family is homeless due to domestic violence, natural disaster, uninhabitabi1ity, or a physical or mental disability. All exceptions must be verified by a third-party agency. Cal WORKs families may be eligible to apply for homeless assistance benefits to assist with the payment of rent arrearages. Payment of arrearages is considered a family's once-in-a-lifetime Homeless Assistance payment. The recommended budget reflects a decrease of $4, III from Refugee Cash Assistance ($10,000) Refugee Cash Assistance provides up to eight months of cash assistance to needy refugees without children who are not otherwise eligible for any other cash aid. These refugees are unable to return to their country of origin because of persecution or a well-founded fear ofpersecution on account of race, religion, nationality, or political opinion. These individuals may also be eligible to receive employment and other social services during the same eight-month period. Funding of the Refugee Cash Assistance Program is 100% federally-reimbursed. The recommended budget reflects a decrease of $20,000 from , reflecting current experience. Multiyear Forecast The Affordable Care Act provides states with the flexibility to adopt strategies to improve care and the coordination of services for Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) beneficiaries. A crucial component of the Act is defining the roles of the public programs, including Medi-Cal, and how the county welfare departments will coordinate services with the Health Insurance Exchange. Depending on the final implementation, welfare departments may see a significant increase in Medi-Cal applications and caseloads. The IHSS program will likely face a growing demand for services from an aging population. The Governor has proposed significant reductions to services in an effort to reduce current and future costs. Within the next two to five years HSA will likely require a physical presence in the southern portion of the County. This will entail providing full-scope services to HSA clients in a dedicated office environment for approximately 40 to 60 HSA staff. Supplemental Request In , the State enacted trigger cuts which eliminated the State share of IHSS Fraud Prevention Program funding, shifting all local financial responsibility to counties. HSA has requested $431,517 in supplemental funding to continue this Program. The funding would support an Office Assistant, Social Worker, and related costs. Of this amount, 50% or $215,759 is federally-reimbursable. Funding for this request has not been included in the recommended budget. G-11