[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6337818,"mediaKeyId","2271456-1709a95c055bdad560d95aea484e8e66","parentId",2271456,"title","Lawmakers and DCF debate motel use, security and modest shelter expansion funding","audioSeconds",1442,"startMs",2457815,"endMs",3900684,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2271456-1709a95c055bdad560d95aea484e8e66&start=2457&end=3900","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2271456-1709a95c055bdad560d95aea484e8e66/thumbnail_2457815.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6337818/Vermont/Lawmakers-and-DCF-debate-motel-use-security-and-modest-shelter-expansion-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6337818-286b4ee0a65a09019c42d568b17f5060/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157166&Signature=PnzK30cGxAyIQXMD8C-qKL~Z7WOuL6jNFAxT2bM~4BdC9uHteFq~swl~G6OJ34Dxp5awVHYwW~eTmsz5hmVQJ7kWA9iv3UbRUrx1ihqrdkeL3qRtb2kUAlYLw1ZLjmwbOkHPjlQ-WX-0T-07VKb~DT5cvo8~s8HGifep7-0fKleVacXbfaKqzO5pIzbS~fIz-UP9KrIF~R4hNG1mCngKhObqQNG8ZMAR4Jyt~RXNF~pYW5qrIGKOypg8lhLDlksX4SoNFE-PQi2rQDT0QoYw4oUdI7CkPgYe6wrqT2lEoHCpu0Tt326RfaaRgJj5v8QOzI0A2gLJbGoA~0W~8-eGzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-12T14:06:19Z","article","Legislators questioned Department for Children and Families officials about the state’s continued reliance on hotels for emergency shelter and a proposed plan to expand traditional shelter capacity.

Deputy Commissioner Maureen Gray and other DCF officials said the department has concentrated outreach and management on the GA motel program during recent years, while also pursuing shelter grants and the Housing Opportunity Program. \"There are two establishments where they feel like there is a lack of safety...I have given warning letters and...I am about to issue letters letting them know that they must engage in providing some form of security,\" Deputy Commissioner Gregg said regarding specific hotels used for clients. Gregg said the department can stop using hotels that do not provide a safe environment.

Committee members raised concerns about whether placing people in hotels produces worse outcomes than congregate shelters and how responsibility for security is shared between state, municipality and private hotel owners. \"When you have a large number of clients in those hotels who may very well become the victims of people who would move in and take advantage of them...we've had less success with large hotels and large populations,\" a DCF official said, arguing shelters staffed by trained professionals often offer better outcomes.

The department proposed adding about $3.4335 million in general fund to the Housing Opportunity Program and shelter expansion initiatives and said it hopes to increase capacity by roughly 85 households. Committee members cautioned that standing up shelter beds can take time and that some projects funded last year missed projected start dates. \"We had a bunch of projects say we can do this by December 1...very few of them actually hit it,\" a DCF official told the committee.

The exchange was a factual budget and policy discussion; lawmakers did not take formal votes on the proposals during the hearing segment. DCF said it will provide more information on shelter pipeline timelines and the relationship between reducing motel use and opening shelter capacity.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Human Services - 2025-02-12 9:05 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members questioned the department about reliance on hotels under the General Assistance motel program, security funding inconsistencies, and a $3.43 million increase proposed for the Housing Opportunity Program to expand shelter capacity by about 85 households.","taxTitle","Human Services, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",35147,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6337823,"State projects CCFAP caseload savings and shifts payroll‑tax revenue into childcare fund",256,1935825,2192020,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2271456-1709a95c055bdad560d95aea484e8e66&start=1935&end=2192","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2271456-1709a95c055bdad560d95aea484e8e66/thumbnail_1935825.jpg","/articles/6337823/Vermont/State-projects-CCFAP-caseload-savings-and-shifts-payrolltax-revenue-into-childcare-fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6337823-13e88a537a97c7ae7f4428eafe7563e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157166&Signature=N765nMGoXHgz2kVuZzV4Y5faN0XOdM1lM74Dzs-FWw0FQg86rUOG0mwraQ98P8bs-HX2-0Q6HfTpAcCnbFrNa~ksq7Cdxt3jzsMhUkx4n1tiDDhotuuu~UJRBCL8RpycitOE0XHchbqbgi2jqRna97Xv816IUmgKYoMFgpRhtxcalZAKxhFqh23CmEzq9ELU8pvIQnBuXUQadJvs03JQ5H32SmCjAbQnN4k-Fy1Uf9-rUau0PtueS5-cFBUIJfJDuDX3J9sehJ8KXjHY0jj2slCrKKZFM6F7Hqfbh17MiKjGhkqfNFLaha~AEqAwIpzPioswwNQeZPC2I0K06t7kkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department for Children and Families officials told the committee that forecasts show lower utilization of the Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP) than originally budgeted and that the department plans a revenue swap that uses higher payroll‑tax receipts for CCFAP.

DCF staff said they performed an exhaustive analysis of eligible populations, utilization rates and per‑case costs and then shared the analysis with the Joint Fiscal Office. \"This is a very conservative reduction in our caseload,\" a department presenter said, adding that the reduction would not deny eligible families access: \"If you are eligible, you will be served.\"

Committee members asked whether the higher payroll‑tax receipts that fund the childcare special fund will continue to come in above initial expectations; DCF staff deferred to economists and e‑board projections but said payroll receipts tend to rise with wages and inflation. The department said that swapping special‑fund money for general fund will allow general funds to be used for other caseload needs across the agency.

Separately, Deputy Commissioner Janet McLaughlin of the Child Development Division told the committee that Act 76 rate setting does not currently include an automatic inflationary factor and that the division has conducted analysis on options such as cost‑of‑care methodologies for future consideration.

The discussion was procedural and budgetary; no formal appropriation votes were taken at the hearing.","DCF told lawmakers it is projecting conservative caseload savings for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program and intends to use higher payroll‑tax receipts to replace general‑fund support for the program, freeing general funds for other caseloads.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6337828,"DCF waits on federal OK for CCWIS RFP; cost estimates vary widely",251,1377510,1629090,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2271456-1709a95c055bdad560d95aea484e8e66&start=1377&end=1629","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2271456-1709a95c055bdad560d95aea484e8e66/thumbnail_1377510.jpg","/articles/6337828/Vermont/DCF-waits-on-federal-OK-for-CCWIS-RFP-cost-estimates-vary-widely","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6337828-dfca14960f9c0d1b16210a5241db6460/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157166&Signature=jeNZ2DAU1t2YVrUn1aHFGVG3yGT1SYGoRFNaXFN1GSbmawtXdpYr3d19mg7CoD-YvZPMDYYo3-PLgpS0psB3vLdI0RO~TvCesfV0ODcF1cQfuVV6xj~JzqL-naFdomQCsx4Tr3kIrWuiYJ0vP4266VyH2VKa1BIZaAO4T2escp0eI0Wcyh4mAFANaHVl3u6XC-fgA3rvg7bxTI-MSSu745dyki6~N7WV-JPdpokrK7DU1ZLLz8epdzD3qnSVO0~3QMBe~KHNFCdT0VjmWKF5dHgpsk44tKMparEJeuJu9LrFrh-1uQH1SG~4HbEMDwp9iElNZp~HzJF3PW-ZZYfuDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislators pressing DCF’s budget were told the department is awaiting federal approvals before issuing the RFP for a Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS), delaying a full cost estimate.

Commissioner Winters told the committee that federal review of the procurement submission has taken longer than expected. The department previously withdrew an earlier solicitation after state contracting counsel found technical problems; officials said they reworked the procurement to allow an agile, modular approach rather than a single \"big bang\" purchase. \"We had to go back for a second approval...they sent it back to us and said, oh, we found something new. We want you to change this boilerplate language,\" the commissioner said.

Department staff described three tiers of numbers discussed during the hearing: about $8–9 million that the legislature had already set aside, an internal estimate in the $20–50 million range based on other states’ experiences, and larger estimates cited in committee discussion. \"Our estimates are ranging somewhere between 20 and 50,000,000. But until we get those RFPs...we'll get a better sense of how much it will cost,\" a DCF official said. Officials also noted uncertainty about whether a federal 50 percent match will be available under the new federal administration.

The committee asked whether prior BAA (Budget Adjustment Act) steps had already set aside sums; DCF said roughly $77.8 million (state funds) or other figures were cited during the exchange as amounts at various stages of reservation. Committee members urged DCF to return with clearer figures once federal responses and vendor bids arrive; the department indicated it intends to pursue an iterative procurement so modules could be developed even without full upfront funding.

The exchange provided contextual and procedural updates; no procurement decisions or votes were taken at the hearing. DCF said it will report back when the RFP proceeds and when firm vendor bids establish a clearer budget need.","Department for Children and Families officials said federal approval is delaying the Child Welfare Information System procurement. The department has set aside state funds but estimates from other states range from about $20 million to more than $100 million; DCF said it has tentative set‑asides but will await RFP responses for firm costs.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6337832,"DCF reports slow decline in family-services vacancies; residential bed capacity remains constrained",441,53135,494245,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2271456-1709a95c055bdad560d95aea484e8e66&start=53&end=494","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2271456-1709a95c055bdad560d95aea484e8e66/thumbnail_53135.jpg","/articles/6337832/Vermont/DCF-reports-slow-decline-in-family-services-vacancies-residential-bed-capacity-remains-constrained","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6337832-59a9e057734ea9a532794819a95b74f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771157166&Signature=QUeJuqznnjvP0MU0VKQJ-kzSI7TId9I8w4o2XbL2CPfs0zVGc~qJdY2TSD5fKvHaySKRpNUK-uv0D5p3u24UFMda8wE8QF-eGnbedmhzbBY6~CLryIwF4nIot1KerjkRkuKn2jIvSMjc9Yy2vDElaoav5zH8ZP9zINNKGnf5fbBp5dwIlagccpZHXJRcgvdqycsw9zccMf7tJ6FmiwxXr6HNKPNzqhkdiVP2drOx6sg2QrLt2U4iUDRnUFMki5pw3-oCM88SbJKvc6hofIcnB6zTnnYPnCpeONMKlxEP9J5b7k4BT026ieiVoLIgjgB3hSo63m3NARtkAOhk08Ehfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner Winters and DCF officials told a legislative budget subcommittee on Oct. 12 that vacancies for family service workers have decreased but remain a pressure point for the department.

The discussion opened with the committee asking about the budgeted vacancy‑savings percentage; the department’s financial director said the common assumption is roughly 3 to 4 percent. \"We, it's about 3%, 3 to 4%, but it does vary depending on the appropriation,\" the financial director said. Committee members pressed whether that estimate still fits the current labor market and whether divisions with higher turnover were stabilizing.

Erica Radke, Deputy Commissioner of the Family Services Division, said the division has reduced vacancies from a summer high of 28 to about 16–17 currently. \"We are at, I believe, 17 FSW saving or FSW vacancies, and that is down from a high of 28 vacancies in the summer,\" Radke said. DCF has expanded recruitment and retention efforts and is piloting mentoring and a 40/10 schedule (four 10‑hour days and one day off) to improve work–life balance; Radke said workers responded positively to the schedule and it helped foster‑family contact after hours.

Committee members also asked about so‑called \"staffing\" — temporary staff coverage when youth await placement. DCF officials said the department has reduced reliance on family service workers for that work by contracting with outside providers and using a specially trained AHS internal team. \"We...believe that at this point, the family services workers are not doing nearly as much staffing. It may be down to about 20% of our workers needing the staff, whereas the 80% is a combination of TLC, respite providers, and the CATS team,\" Radke said.

Despite these gains, DCF officials said residential bed capacity for community‑based programs remains well below pre‑COVID levels because many providers cannot hire enough staff to operate beds. \"It's about 50 to 55 percent\" of pre‑COVID licensed capacity, Radke said. The department also has a funded developmental‑needs bed and cited the opening of a Clover program as helping to reduce staffing burdens in some regions. Officials said they will provide the committee a more detailed breakdown of bed types and where funding currently sits.

Lawmakers pressed the department to track the reallocation of resources from facilities such as Woodside and to provide clearer breakdowns of contractual versus personal‑services costs tied to secure residential line items. DCF said follow‑up materials are being prepared for the committee.

The exchange focused on discussion and status updates; there were no formal votes or committee directives recorded during the hearing segment.

Looking ahead, DCF said it will continue to emphasize recruitment, retention, and alternatives to family‑service staff doing temporary overnight staffing while working with the committee to supply more granular budget and bed‑type data.","Department for Children and Families officials told lawmakers vacancies among family service workers have fallen from a summer high and that use of temporary staffing and residential placements has declined but residential capacity remains roughly half of pre‑COVID levels because community programs lack staff.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lawmakers and DCF debate motel use, security and modest shelter expansion funding

State projects CCFAP caseload savings and shifts payroll‑tax revenue into childcare fund

DCF waits on federal OK for CCWIS RFP; cost estimates vary widely

DCF reports slow decline in family-services vacancies; residential bed capacity remains constrained