Richland County HHS director to become county administrator; staff positions posted as federal program funds pause
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Summary
Richland County’s Health and Human Services director told the county committee that she will transition to the county administrator role and will appoint an interim HHS director on May 1; staff openings are posted and the department flagged paused federal programs, including SHIP and some public-health ARPA claims.
Tricia Clements, the county’s Health and Human Services director and the incoming county administrator, told the Richland County Community and Health Services standing committee that her HHS position is posted and that she plans to appoint an interim HHS director when she transitions on May 1.
Clements said the job posting for the HHS director is open until April 11 and that “thus far … we received 2 applications.” She said she will ask managers whether they want to serve as interim director and “out of those that are interested, make an appointment.”
The HHS director also described current recruiting and staffing moves at the agency: Melissa Wicker has been hired as an economic support specialist and will assist with payroll while Tammy Hendrickson transitions out of her payroll role; a child and youth services manager position was posted after a resignation, with the same April 11 application deadline.
Clements warned the committee of federal-level program changes that may affect local services. She said the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) administered through local Aging & Disability Resource Centers — a program that helps Medicare beneficiaries — has been paused by the Administration for Community Living and that the pause could create “hiccups” for aging programs. She also said the county was notified that some public-health ARPA funds were frozen and that “we cannot do any claims after March 24,” leaving roughly $18,000 unclaimed in that line.
Clements told the committee the department is tracking rescinded or paused grants and will report updates to the committee. She described the interim director’s expected duties as handling day-to-day operations, signing contracts and leading committee meetings while the interim is in place.
No formal committee action was taken on the staffing plan during the meeting; Clements described it as her plan for managing the transition and recruitment.
The committee and staff said they will return to the issue at upcoming meetings once interim appointments are made and as more information about paused funding becomes available.
