TITLE
Title
CARE MANAGEMENT TRANSITION TO IN HOME AIDE III
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Heather Skeens (Jenise Davis and Myra Thompson)
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BACKGROUND
Background
Both the In-Home Aide Unit within DHHS-Division of Social Services (DSS) and the Care Management Program within DHHS-Public Health are charged with the delivery of vital services for aged and disabled adults who currently live in the community and wish to remain in an independent living, setting rather than face premature placement into an alternative living setting, such as an assisted living facility. DSS In-Home Aide services will soon absorb approximately forty (40) clients from Public Health’s Care Management program to serve over 150 older adults, and will begin serving off the waiting list (approximately forty (40) older adults).
During 2015/2016, the Guilford County Commission on Aging (COA) began to review possible overlaps in funded services to ensure that Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) monies were maximized for service provision. As part of their review, the COA met with both Public Health and DSS to learn more about the care management program and in-home aide services. These two (2) programs are very similar, especially in the types of services provided and the customer base.
After meeting with both divisions individually and collectively, the Guilford County COA saw opportunities in cost efficiency, maximization of funding, increased monitoring standards and most importantly the ability to provide more customers with the in-home aide services that are needed. On September 22, 2016, the COA voted to move the HCCBG funding from Public Health’s Care Management to DSS In-Home Aide Level III services effective July 2017.
Department heads from Public Health and Social Services began to meet with their teams regarding a seamless transition plan that would avoid interruptions in care for the customers who are served. During this time, a Public Health nurse assigned to the Care Management nurse position was promoted within the agency, leaving a vacant position. This vacancy has provided an opportunity to move forward with the transition of the program to DSS effective January 1, 2017.
To enable the program’s success under DSS Aging & Adult Services Division, the program will require one (1) Full Time Nurse, one (1) Social Worker II and office support. Public Health immediately transferred the vacant Full-Time Nurse position to DSS, and management is currently in the recruitment process to fill this position. A new Social Worker II position is being requested for approval by the Board, as the existing progam staff have full caseloads and are unable to absorb additional duties. Office support responsibilities for this program can be absorbed by existing agency support staff.
Public Health will transfer funds to the DSS budget to fund the salary of a new Social Worker II position. The current Social Worker assigned to the Care Management program under Public Health has assigned duties for above and beyond those associated with the program.
Current contracts for care management service providers will be amended to reflect a change in services from care management to In-Home Aide Level III to ensure that there is no loss of services to the customers.
Additionally, through the consolidation efforts and reorganization of current internal services between PHL and DSS, an existing services contract with Senior Resources funding a Master of Social Work (MSW) position targeting rural outreach programs as well as eligibility services for Medicaid and Medicare will be ended, with a cost saving of $20,000 this fiscal year and $40,000 per year in future years.
Public Health has agreed to assist DSS fully during the period from November 2016 to January 1, 2017 to ensure a successful transition of Care Management into the In-Home Aide III program so that, most importantly, our customers will not be impacted.
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Budget Impact
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
Budget Ordinance Amendment
No additional County funds are required for the transfer of Care Management from Public Health to Social Services and no change is proposed to the total Health and Human Services budget; however, final adjustments required to align the individual division budgets of Public Health and Social Services will not be known until the Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC) conducts a close-out audit for Public Health. These amendments shall not change the total Health and Human Services budget.
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Requested Action
Requested Action
Approve request for one (1) new Social Worker II position and authorize staff to make the required amendments to Public Health and Social Services division budgets, once final adjustments have been determined by the Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC).
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