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County proclaims March Social Work Month and approves replacement social‑worker hire for adult behavioral health
Summary
The board proclaimed March as Social Work Month and approved hiring to replace an adult‑behavioral‑health social worker who accepted a state position; staff said the vacant role handles civil commitments, specialty court coordination and intensive case management.
The Clay County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday proclaimed March 2025 as Social Work Month and approved the immediate hiring of a replacement social worker in the adult and behavioral‑health division.
During the proclamation, county staff highlighted the department’s workload last year, including thousands of public‑service intakes and hundreds of child‑ and adult‑protection assessments. Commissioners moved and approved the proclamation by voice vote.
Shortly after the proclamation, the county’s social‑services director requested authorization to fill a vacant social‑worker position that handles civil commitments, treatment coordination, intensive case management and specialty court participation. Staff said the departing employee accepted a state position and that this is the third recent county hire lost to state recruitment.
Budget and fiscal detail: The position is budgeted in the 2025 county budget at grade 18, step 10; county staff said a new hire would likely begin at grade 18, step 1, producing an estimated first‑year salary savings of about $19,301 compared with the budgeted step. The department said the position generates some billable revenue — an estimated $9,700 per year — but primarily supports civil commitments, drug‑court coordination and services to people with complex behavioral‑health needs.
Formal action: A commissioner moved to approve replacing the social‑worker position and to allow backfill if necessary; the motion carried by voice vote.
Ending: Commissioners thanked social‑services staff for their work and expressed support for filling the vacancy promptly to maintain program continuity.
