Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
The Tri-County Social Service Board again discussed the proposed district structure at their meeting on Monday, March 12.
Teresa Fetsch, the director of Eddy, Foster, and Wells Social Services, discussed a SB 2206 Social Services Redesign meeting that she attended in Bismarck on February 28.
Chris Jones, Director of the Department of Human Services, presented at the meeting, along with the chairs of the redesign committees. The focus of the redesign is case load, outcomes and how services can be delivered to create more efficiency for clients.
Fetsch said there are four committees studying programs in the redesign, which consist of child and family services, adults, economic assistance and administrative. Jones would like to see social services move from regulatory based to more generative based.
National experts from other states have been contacted for the work teams, and there will likely be structural changes with the counties, the state and the regional Human Service Centers. Teresa learned that the pilot project will not be just a one biennium project, but that changes could be made in the short-term.
Fetsch said she plans to have the district plan completed to submit to the state in June.
It was suggested that a name for the District is needed, and the Board discussed different names. After much discussion, Eddy County Commissioner Glenda Collier suggested Central Prairie Social Services. Upon approval of the name, the board asked Fetsch to see if a new Employee Identification Number would be needed to have the new name registered.
Board members discussed employee benefits, possible realignment of duties for some employees and wondered if there was any apprehension from any of the existing employees regarding the formation of a district. Fetsch responded that she thought that the majority of the employees seem to be in favor of the plan.
The Tri-County Board wants to present the district plan to the commissioners of all three counties after the next Tri-County Meeting in May. That meeting will be held May 14 at 9:30 a.m. in Carrington.