[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6049859,"mediaKeyId","3507384-89be51b19f305afffa136320e987da53","parentId",3507384,"title","County social services report: foster-care placements and Medicaid costs drive 2024 budget pressure","audioSeconds",485,"startMs",4347000,"endMs",4832000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3507384-89be51b19f305afffa136320e987da53&start=4347&end=4832","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3507384-89be51b19f305afffa136320e987da53/thumbnail_4347000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6049859/Washington-County/New-York/County-social-services-report-foster-care-placements-and-Medicaid-costs-drive-2024-budget-pressure","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049859-31cd465decf2cff3a8008bc562af13a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152455&Signature=Hij34AAJndSU3J1gbQN219bjqIfyz7civTsmOv-36FJvD7UtpaSf8JgUmGekhi7czl20~i6GCpOxdAN8PQwS-1dUpQ1NLs9-C8yj~VNlk0UR6ajlbFkK2gmArgAOsYfSLLBIyYwcMXnqf46iLazCQnrz1n5~i7aTwsvyO~fv71lQVW881slajkviYJ2ZyN1-T1RlRFgUGj-UnYLpXc4CGm2OPxdr~-7llrru3NSKWiXjW1HdseYv8cuUdu2Bt815mStEhu4UnsacknrZ83xvwPwqjYZZgRR1j63dL2Qgeb~FIyXFYHjtBN~3ixvcSSxLIB-Q-~SO-a1rA2wZbH5nxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington County New York","date","2025-04-30T00:00:00Z","article","A Washington County social services presenter told the Health and Human Services committee the department’s 2024 fiscal picture reflected several cost pressures—most notably higher foster-care and adoption expenses and rising county Medicaid net costs.

The presenter described a large foster-care expense increase and cited an example of an out-of-area placement that required an elevated one-on-one supplemental rate. “We have another youth right now in a, in a place that we'd had 1 in in the past where they say they will accept the child, but then they view the child as having extreme needs and they want us to pay for an additional 1 on 1 rate for each day for 3 months, which is $1,200 a day,” the presenter said.

Accounting pulled out line items showing foster-care/adoption costs rose by roughly $518,000 in the period discussed. The presenter also reported county Medicaid net cost at $11,459,000 for the reporting period and noted that statewide Medicaid spending on behalf of Washington County residents exceeded $164,000,000 (payments to hospitals, nursing homes, ambulances and other providers) over the same review.

The presenter explained that reimbursement rates for specific programs did not change in 2024; rather, the county spent more in lower-reimbursed areas (for example, safety-net services and special education placements), which reduced the overall percentage of reimbursement and increased net county cost.

Committee members asked about causes and process: the presenter said placement scarcity, higher needs among some children and the resulting need to place children farther from the county were major contributors to higher costs. The presenter also described cooperative arrangements across county departments to channel services and funding where appropriate.

The department said it will continue monitoring placements, push for alternatives when elevated supplemental rates are requested, and present budget comparisons to the board before the presenter's planned retirement.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Washington County Health & Human Services Meeting April 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Washington County Department of Social Services reported a sharp rise in foster-care and adoption-related expenditures in 2024, citing placement scarcity, higher out-of-area care costs and rising county Medicaid net expenses.","taxTitle","Washington County, New York","taxId",56999,"location","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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6049862,"Votes at a glance: committee approves budget transfers, furniture purchases, grant participation and contract extension",477,664000,1141000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3507384-89be51b19f305afffa136320e987da53&start=664&end=1141","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3507384-89be51b19f305afffa136320e987da53/thumbnail_664000.jpg","/articles/6049862/Washington-County/New-York/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-approves-budget-transfers-furniture-purchases-grant-participation-and-contract-extension","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049862-0026214ba7cbc72533b53b7727c0a931/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152455&Signature=Hxw0wqDymou7YDIw~W3tbb0X2dty7lVk9V4mJhCGHIOqixIKklbSnjngLf7Nt4wwDKH9LENlMWQVfD~Y8NJgOX0kXY2LqYs9osGjEA7s91~pgoi61Orh0jL9qOI4y80mDpQ6w098Ie8jKAU0FTTdxXgk0wrYXWH1AQAiMY9gxW-h8JvTbuouEVv68Wa-L7Sofzkvm1f8tJgHYBDa759~KAtd0TBdO50vWz2zOj-VL0hcos40ltnu3iErQar9HW3s0uXKXVaOK3ZS71RR7jW4uOhe74rcqNZ3RXIp-ExqkH3UAe7lROHPydFh6QWU8KOFdgn4I0duxUvNKhToLSPC-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington County Health and Human Services committee unanimously approved a series of administrative budget amendments and appointments during its April 30, 2025 meeting.

Key actions approved by voice vote included recognizing minor revenue, moving grant funds into equipment accounts for program needs, signing a letter of intent for new grant funding and authorizing a two-year extension to the county rabies contract.

Votes at a glance

- Accept minutes: Motion to accept the minutes was moved and seconded; approved by voice vote (recorded as \"Aye. Passes\").

- Recognize grant revenue ($50) and amend 2025 budget: Approved by voice vote.

- Purchase two AEDs ($500 total): Approved by voice vote.

- Furniture for Burgoyne Ave site ($8,509): Transfer of grant funds to equipment account approved after brief discussion; voice vote passed.

- WIC program furniture/equipment transfer ($10,000): Approved; funds come from a rent grant.

- Youth Bureau: Move budgeted subscription/training dollars for rural community-of-practice grant and Atlas online into the 2025 budget; motion passed.

- Children with Special Healthcare Needs: Approval to sign a letter of intent to participate in a program providing $30,736 for year one of a grant beginning 10/01/2025; motion passed.

- Rabies contract extension (New York State Department of Health): Committee authorized the chairman to sign a contract extension for April 1, 2025–March 31, 2027 at $24,221 per year; motion passed.

- Appointments: Susan Hunter (infection control/communicable disease nurse) was added to the professional advisory committee; Gail Barra was appointed to the Office for Aging advisory council; both appointments were approved by voice vote.

Where votes were recorded as unanimous by the meeting chair, the committee response was recorded as \"Aye\" and the chair declared the motion passed.

","The Washington County Health and Human Services committee approved several budget amendments and administrative actions, including small equipment purchases, furniture transfers, a letter of intent for a children’s grant, and a two-year extension on the county rabies contract.",{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6049867,"Office for Aging presents annual report highlighting New York Connects, transportation and nutrition trends",3106,1048000,4154000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3507384-89be51b19f305afffa136320e987da53&start=1048&end=4154","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3507384-89be51b19f305afffa136320e987da53/thumbnail_1048000.jpg","/articles/6049867/Washington-County/New-York/Office-for-Aging-presents-annual-report-highlighting-New-York-Connects-transportation-and-nutrition-trends","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6049867-4a3544ddf23273c241073eca268803a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152455&Signature=lDppDl4btbAmLhzMrycWLv69qdqJDEPBLmAcQ2T5qiAz18dsNPsAKRtcZMWdjNpxRhjMtOvvaOjOL~5-I2J5~85AACOpjK6JrAqYrvKayJmnzvpNREurd8334zQxBns5alT12O8Mah~wYWtL8QgHB23iS8VZUSwK2cQ7AwGRWCLsOr~3aEI9Wepjy8B1DormzUdI2dmVTfWyfC7qmFnluWl~jEAS6HWije3jZI~SaKi73uq6RYd4L3EWAjwJ-rzeOAuYxe75Hjj1yLT9kgH9fL68KmM~d2XoQY94iD18wAZy7hArnFk2c9BoVFNYh9CnHuvoCZ1gA9RhRUCNWzNsEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tammy, presenting the Office for Aging annual report, told the county Health and Human Services committee that the department’s New York Connects partnership remained the backbone of its outreach and service delivery.

“New York Connects is the main program that creates the partnership between DSS and OFA,” Tammy said, describing the program’s information-and-assistance, option counseling and referral work.

The report emphasized transportation as a persistent need for older and rural residents. Tammy noted the county’s use of multiple transportation channels—contracts with LEAP and local senior centers, community partners and the GoGo Grandparent service. “Gogo has provided around 1,100 rides to New Yorkers since their partnership with the office for the aging began in 2023,” she said, and added that “in 2024, we provided 314 1 way trips using the Gogo service.” She said GoGo’s drivers receive training tailored to older adults, which county staff see as the difference compared with general rideshare bookings.

Nutrition services also featured in the presentation. Tammy said the county saw a small decline in home-delivered meals in 2024—about 40 fewer participants and roughly 281 fewer meals—while congregate site and pop-up events rose slightly. She also described changes to the county’s restaurant-dining coupon program, which was restructured this year after operational confusion.

Caregiver and personal-care services drew attention in the report. Tammy outlined caregiver respite offerings, consumer-directed (self-managed) options and agency-provided personal care; she said limits on funding and workforce shortages constrain service levels and produce waiting lists for some services.

The Office for Aging also reported outreach and publicity success: a public hearing that drew about 175 older adults and a Spectrum News feature spotlighting local program recipients. Tammy said older adults ranked home modification and repair assistance as their top unmet need.

On advisory bodies and honors, the committee approved the appointment of Gail Barra to the OFA advisory council (motion moved and seconded; unanimous). Tammy also announced the county’s two honorees for New York State’s Older Americans awards—Kathleen Pomerant Whitcomb of Granville and Dale Point of Hartford—and said the office will continue traditional May recognition and a proclamation for Older Americans Month.

Tammy closed by encouraging supervisors to use the annual report as a referral and community-engagement tool and said the report link will be posted on the county website.

","The Washington County Office for Aging presented its 2024 annual report, describing New York Connects services, transportation programs including GoGo Grandparent, small declines in home-delivered meals, caregiver and respite services, and plans for Older Americans Month recognition.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County social services report: foster-care placements and Medicaid costs drive 2024 budget pressure

Votes at a glance: committee approves budget transfers, furniture purchases, grant participation and contract extension

Office for Aging presents annual report highlighting New York Connects, transportation and nutrition trends