Caledonia Argus

Slow economy impacts families in need

Posted: 10/28/03

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

A slow economy has caused an increase in the number of families in Houston County who need financial assistance. That was part of the report to the county board at the human services meeting on Tuesday, October 21.

In the past two years the county has seen its caseload for those on medical assistance, food stamps and the MFIP (Minnesota Family Investment Program) increase from 806 in October of 2001 to 1,000 by October 2003.

Financial Assistance Supervisor Bonnie Goetzinger said these cases do not include childcare cases which has remained at 100 cases, with between 15 to 20 families who are on a waiting list.

ìOverall, weíve had more cash assistance, food stamps and medical assistance,î Goetzinger said. ìThey lose insurance through losing their jobs and may only be getting part time jobs.î

The case load for MFIP has reached the 100 mark at about 98 cases. Right now 10 are in thirty percent sanction, which means they are only receiving 30 percent of their grant. Of those cases which are in sanction, Goetzinger noted that some are working, but donít have enough hours, some are looking for work, and others simply do not want to work.

Goetzinger explained that people can remain in sanction for up to six months at which point they are then taken off cash assistance completely. They can receive cash assistance again if they maintain a job for at least 30 days.

However, a family can not be on cash assistance for more than five years unless there are extenuating circumstances that prevent the parent from obtaining a job.

Commissioner Kevin Kelleher suggested that those people who are not working and are in sanction may be receiving cash from other means.

Goetzinger said that would constitute fraud, which she said does happen sometimes.

Update on out-of-home placements

Social Services Supervisor Karen Meier-Wills reported that there are currently 30 children being placed outside of the home. Of that 30, seven are in higher cost placement situations.They include: one social service placement; four court services placement; and two shared departmental placements.

Of that 30, there are eight children who are in long term placement. Of that eight, two are in the process of being adopted.

Commissioner Ann Thompson questioned how children could be in long term placement when according to a recent law, children had to be in a permanent residence within 12 months of being placed.

Meier-Wills explained that the strong bonds that are formed when the child is in foster care are considered. And, if adoption for them is not an option at the time, then their residency at foster care is considered as part of permanency. ìIf the foster parents are willing to raise the child till 18, then they are in a permanent home. So, we are kind of forced to pay for long term foster care,î explained Meier-Wills.

It was also noted that potential parents can receive more financial support as foster parents than if they adopted the child.

Medical assistance continues with the child in an adoption. Adoptive parents can be eligible for adoption subsidies if the child has certain special needs. However, those funds are less than if the child remained a foster child.

It was also noted that the humans services department is busy with intakes concerning adults who are vulnerable, or have mental health or financial issues.

Also, because there is one less person, the department is busy with child protection cases and CHIPS (Children In need of Protective Services) cases.

Contract approved

The county board approved a contract with Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center to have families who are not eligible for medical assistance pay for services according to a sliding fee scale. In the past the county paid for the entire bill.

CCSA plan has been filed

In other news, Houston County Human Services Director Beth Wilms reported that the rough draft of the CCSA (Children and Community Services Act) plan has been sent to the state. She expects the state to make recommendations of changes. Wilms complained, however, that the turn-around time for when the state requested the plan be submitted was very short specifically the required 30 days of public input.

Commenting on the short time frame and 27 percent cut in state funds. commissioner Kevin Kelleher said, ìIím not sure they wanted the public input. Iím wondering how itís going to work when they want us to do something and itís going to cost us money.î

Internships to be considered

Wilms also informed the board that their office has had an interest from two people wanting to intern in the human services department.

The individuals represent Winona State University and Viterbo College in La Crosse. Interviews will be conducted. Wilms noted that it has been a few years since the department has had interns. ìWe had a bad experience, and have been a little gun-shy.î

Wilms said they are also considering taking an internship as a case aide from the upper Iowa Community College.

She commented, ìThey learn from us, but we also learn from them. Itís a good reality check for us.î These internships would be unpaid.

Department waits for results of appeal

The Human Services Department attended a MR/RC (Mental Retardation/ Related Condition) waiver hearing concerning a client who was denied a request to have the county pay for an assistive technology item, which is tool used that promotes habilitation. An example of that would be a specially designed keyboard or computer program that helps the client build skills.

The case was appealed by the client and both sides of the issue were heard by a state administrative law judge.

The client claimed that in the beginning of this year, this assistive technology item was budgeted for the clientís use.

However, budgets were cut mid-year, explained Wilms, because of the state deficit and the county decided they could only pay for half of the item. The county also felt this item was more of a ìfrillî item and not an item that met health and safety needs.

Wilms said it will be interesting to see how the state decides this case because how the waiver dollars are spent tends to be a gray area.

ìItís the first time weíve had an appeal in the disability services. We see it as a good thing because it clarifies to us how the state sees things. Itís a learning process,î said Wilms.

In a related noted, Goetzinger said they are seeing more people appeal when food stamps, medical assistance, and cash assistance are denied. She noted that those benefits have more restrictions because of budget cuts.

Human services looking for more parenting resources

Meier-Wills said the Human Services department is lacking parenting-type resources for those who are court-ordered to take parenting classes. They have looked at the Early Childhood Family Education, but discovered that they need something that is more specialized for higher need parents.

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