Department of Social Services
• • •
5130 E. Main Street
Batavia, NY 14020
General Number: (585) 344-2580
General TDD for the Hearing Impaired (585) 344-2580
Adult/Children's Services (585) 344-2580
Child Support Enforcement 1-888-208-4485
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)(585) 344-2580 EXT. 6524
PA/MA/Foodstamps (585) 344-2587
Fax (585) 343-5548
Links
• • •
To Report Social Services Fraud
Department Description, Purpose, Mission & Values
• • •
Description
The Genesee County Department of Social Services provides a wide range of financial assistance and social service programs to the needy and vulnerable citizens of our County. The Department is responsible for a significant part of the "social safety net" which insures that basic human needs will be met. Federal and state laws and regulations mandate virtually all our programs and services.Purpose
Our purpose is to help people care adequately for themselves and family members with the least level of assistance and government intervention possible.Mission
Our mission is to provide assistance and opportunities for improved quality of life for individuals and families through financial, supportive, and protective services. We strive to maintain an organization which promotes self-sufficiency while respecting human dignity and privacy. Excellence will be pursued through continuous improvement, cooperation and teamwork.Values
- An emphasis on excellence of service and continuous improvement.
- A workplace environment of mutual respect and trust.
- Constant development of our skills and capabilities.
- Putting people doing the job in charge of the work process.
- Teamwork.
Key 2009 Accomplishments
The percentage of Medicaid eligibles enrolled in Managed Care Plans is above our targeted 86%, averaging approximately 89% on a monthly basis. Increasing Managed Care enrollment is an important factor in helping to contain costs and in securing the Medicaid Cap as enacted.
Fidelis Care successfully started 7/1/09 as a new Family Health Plus managed care provider in Genesee County. It is the only managed care plan in our county that currently offers dental services.
While the Financial Assistance and Employment Program staff have developed a planned Team Approach to manage the employable caseload, our TANF participation rate remains short of the required 50% rate for all families. This goal must be continued for 2010.
The Social Services Investigators have submitted a Child Care Front End Detection System (FEDS) plan which is currently under review by the State. This will allow eligibility workers and staff to increase the requested number of investigations concerning Child Care applications for assistance.
It is estimated that by the close of 2009, the Social Services Investigators will have increased the number of completed investigations by 21% over the 2008 total, far surpassing our goal of obtaining a 12% increase.
The Social Services Investigators as a result of their investigations are working at a pace that will increase the level of funds subject to recovery to $56,142 by the end of 2009, which is 7% over their 2008 total.
The Financial Assistance Division and Director of Financial Assistance have completed the staffing changes necessary to implement an approach that will allow them to become current on Case Supervisory Review. It is expected that by the end of 2009, the staff will have completed the training necessary to fully complete the Case Supervisory Review goal.
The Employment Unit has made some progress in decreasing the average monthly caseload of Safety Net recipients in congregate care settings, and currently are 5% below the 2008 average.
The Permanency Planning Unit has made substantial progress by returning 8 youth to lower levels of care during 2009. We have been able to maintain this positive trend by not having any more than 8 youth in residential treatment center placements during the year. The Permanency Planning Unit has not been able to reach their goal of having youth who are placed in foster care or cluster home care returned home or to a permanent living arrangement within twelve months. Of the 45 youth placed in care during the past year, only 8 were discharged in less than twelve months.The Adult Protective Services received 281 utility referrals from 10/1/08 to 4/15/09. New protocols were put into place utilizing a team approach between Programs staff, Adult Services staff and clerical staff to adequately address these utility referrals in a timely fashion. Safety assessments for shut-offs for disabled and elderly persons are being completed with much greater efficiency.
The Preventive Services Unit has been able to prevent out-of-home placement in 92% of the cases for which they have provided preventive services during 2009, and staff are working diligently to meet the 95% goal by the end of the year.
By accessing alternate services available in the community, the Preventive Services Unit has been able to close 3 of 13 voluntary preventive services cases (cases not Court-ordered) within 6 months of service initiation date. While this is short of our goal, it demonstrates the significant needs of the population we serve, even when the Court is not ordering that service provision.
The Child Protective Services Unit was able to meet State standards by maintaining an average caseload size of 15 or less cases per worker during the first quarter of 2009, while we had an additional caseworker for CPS. Since 3/31/09, there has not been a single month when all CPS caseworkers were all under 15 cases at all times. Only 75% of all investigations are being completed within the required 60 day time frame. Our recommendation is that an additional caseworker should be hired for 2010 to achieve appropriate staffing levels.
The Child Support Enforcement/Collection Unit currently has health insurance established for 86% of the active child support cases, falling slightly short of the goal of 90%. Efforts will continue to reach the 90% goal by the end of the year.
The Child Support Enforcement/Collection Unit’s TANF and total overall child support collections have decreased during 2009, most likely because the number of new Orders has also decreased. It is projected that total 2009 collections will be approximately $6,517,510 by 12/31/09.
The Administrative Support Services Unit, in conjunction with the Genesee County Transportation Coordinating Committee, temporarily put on hold the development of a transportation scheduling system that would meet the needs of several County departments and participating community agencies, due to the anticipated State takeover of Medicaid transportation administration. As the takeover has not progressed, the Committee will resume discussions during the remainder of 2009.
As a result of the July 2009 retirement of a staff member with unique job responsibilities, and the elimination of that position, the Administrative Support Services Unit reorganized job duties to cover all responsibilities of the retiree while maximizing the efficiency within each title in the department.In cooperation with the Treasurer’s and IT Departments, the Administrative Support Services Unit has completed the breakdown of our T53 account, allowing distinct and separate automation and tracking of Medicaid Pay In and Protective Services for Adults representative payee accounting. DSS T-53 and T-53.1 accounts now contain complete and accurate information to meet the standards of our oversight agencies.
Key 2010 Goals
The percentage of Medicaid eligibles enrolled in Managed Care Plans will be increased to 90% in 2010. The State is in the process of eliminating face-to-face interviews for Medicaid, establishing a call-in recertification center, and increasing the eligibility levels for certain Medicaid programs. Implementing these processes and the increase in caseload size will significantly alter the way we do business.
Working collaboratively, the JOBS, Family Assistance and Employment Program staff will continue to increase the TANF recipient work participation rate toward the 50% rate for all families.
The Social Services Investigators in 2010 will increase the number of completed investigations by 11% over the estimated 2009 total.
The Social Services Investigators, as a result of their investigations, will increase the level of funds subject to recovery by 7% over their estimated 2009 total.
The Permanency Planning Unit will reduce the number of institutional care days to 4000 or less during 2010, by increasing the number of foster homes willing to accept teenagers and maintaining the capacity of our Cluster Home Program.
The Preventive Services Unit will maintain their progress in preventing out-of-home placement in 95% of the cases for which they provide preventive services during 2010.
The Adult Protective Services unit will complete 95% of the PSA Investigations within 60 days, including all documentation and supervisory approvals.
The Child Protective Services Unit will complete 99% of all 7-day safety assessments within that timeframe, and 95% of all investigations within the required 60-day time frame, during 2010. The average caseload size, per month per worker, will remain below 15 cases throughout the year.The Child Support Enforcement/Collection Unit will increase the percentage of active child support orders including a health insurance provision to 94% during 2010.
The Child Support Enforcement/Collections Unit will increase the percentage of overall collections in 2010 by at least 5% over the 2009 actual collections.
The Administrative Support and Financial Services Units will reorganize the CAMS collection process during 2010. This will include the recovery of overpayments and repayments for food stamps, cash assistance, utility arrearages and security deposits. Individuals responsible will ensure that the process is run in an efficient and consistent manner, including collection processes, letters and filings.
The Administrative Support Services Unit has eliminated a Financial Clerk Typist position and restructured job duties within the unit. As a result, additional staff training will be completed in 2010 to provide adequate backup for financial responsibilities, including payroll, PSA payments and BICS payments.
The Information Technology staff within the Administrative Support Services Unit will transfer all Cognos Reports to the current State server, as the State begins the process of eliminating SOS servers in each county during 2010.
