To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Administration
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Allocation of two Youth Support Specialist I/II positions.
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Allocate two (2) 1.0 full time equivalent (FTE) Youth Support Specialists I/II positions (class 1735A/B, salary range 384/404) in budget unit (BU) 508, fund 1160: effective beginning of the pay period following approval.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Social Services Fund 1160
DISCUSSION:
In 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Child Welfare Services (CWS) added two Youth Support Specialist I/II positions and one new Senior Youth Support Specialist position to meet the increasing need of providing 24/7 intensive brief intervention services for CWS’s highest needs youth. These positions coordinate and cover shifts with CWS involved youth who require intensive one-on-one or two-on-one support and are temporarily without a care provider and placement that can meet their level of need. The duration of these services can range from one day to several weeks or months. The state has set forth new mandates and requirements that make placement in treatment facilities for youth with very high end needs increasingly difficult. The current number of positions do not provide for adequate coverage for the 24/7 shifts. This gap in coverage has resulted in usage of additional classifications of staff across DHHS and existing staff working overtime. By adding two additional Youth Support Specialists, CWS will be able to provide these intensive serves with staff who have the training and support in place to attend to the needs of this situation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The approval of the allocation of 2.0 FTE Youth Support Specialists I/II is anticipated to cost $98,089 in salaries and $60,498 in benefits annually. As the positions will be allocated during the current fiscal year (FY) 22/23, the total cost for salaries and benefits is anticipated to be less than $52,862. The expenses related to the additional allocations of 2.0 FTE will be included in the regular budget process for FY 23-24 and future years. There are sufficient salary savings in Fund 1160, Budget Unit 508 Child Welfare Services to accommodate the allocation of the 2.0 FTE Youth Support Specialists I/II. The positions will be supported through a combination of state, federal and local realignment funds. There is no impact to the General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations .
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board could choose not to allocate the 2.0 FTE Youth Support Specialist I/II positions; however, this would hinder CWS’s ability to provide the correct level of care for youth as well as put undue stress on current staff who would have to provide the care needed for high end youth.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A