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HHS reports staff shortages and program shifts; WEAP outsourced and behavioral health manager resigns
Summary
Richland County Health & Human Services reported multiple staff resignations, a transfer of the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WEAP) to a state contractor, and ongoing recruitment challenges; leaders said services will continue while they plan temporary coverage.
Richland County Health & Human Services (HHS) leaders told the county’s HHS & Veterans committee that the department is contending with multiple staff vacancies, program shifts, and changes to service delivery while continuing to provide core services.
Director Tricia Clements reported several resignations in the behavioral health unit, including the behavioral health services manager (Miranda Culver) and a mental-health therapist, both with effective dates in mid-August. Clements said the departures will create short-term staffing pressure but that the department intends to maintain programming while it recruits and puts temporary supports in place.
Clements also told the committee the county will no longer operate the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WEAP) for the upcoming heating season. The state has reduced the county’s WEAP allocation and requires counties to complete application processing without commensurate funding; HHS decided to contract the program out to a state-contracted provider (Energy Services Incorporated). The contractor is expected to establish a local office in Richland County; HHS said staff have shared information with affected employees and callers to ensure a smooth transition.
Other program updates included: - Child and youth services: increased investigations statewide and a continued emphasis on in-home safety planning and family placement when possible; a newly hired case manager (Kaya Holtzman) will begin work on the 15th. - Public health: increased COVID-19 case counts in July (164 confirmed/probable) with ongoing community testing and weekly vaccine clinics. - ADRC (Aging & Disability Resource Center): increased community interest in dementia resources after a recent event; Medicare Open Enrollment preparations underway (Oct. 15–Dec. 7). - Nutrition: the senior farmers’ market voucher program distributed all 24 sets of vouchers for the season.
Budget and staffing context: Clements said the department submitted a proposed 2023 budget built around a 4.5% wage assumption and had not yet incorporated a subsequently approved 5% COLA at the time of reporting. She said the HHS levy request for 2024 is roughly $98,000 higher than the current year, driven in part by wage reclassifications and anticipated full staffing in some units. Clements emphasized many revenue items are grant-funded and not guaranteed; some expansion in child-and-family prevention programs has been possible via time-limited grants.
Clements and staff also presented placement data showing July increases in inpatient adult days (Winnebago) that will affect placement expenditures. She reported roughly 10 current full-time vacancies (out of roughly 71 positions) and described active advertising on multiple platforms and outreach to former employees and local universities to recruit licensed candidates.
Why it matters: the staffing shortages and program outsourcing affect service continuity and the county levy; HHS leaders said they will present a fuller staffing plan at the next meeting and continue monthly budget and placement reports.
Ending: HHS asked the committee for patience while it fills positions and noted plans to return with a behavioral health HR plan and additional budget updates next month.
