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Social Services requests three new positions as caseloads rise 40% since 2020
Summary
The local Department of Social Services asked the board to fund three positions (family services specialist, benefit program supervisor and human services assistant). Department leaders said caseloads for SNAP, Medicaid and protective services have increased sharply, and federal/state match rules make local funding decisions complex.
Kim Pate, director of Fluvanna County Social Services, told the board the agency is requesting funding for three new positions for FY‑26: a family services specialist (adult protective services/APS work), a benefit program supervisor and a human services assistant to support field casework.
Pate presented data showing about 7,500 county residents received at least one major benefit (SNAP, Medicaid, TANF) in FY‑24 — a 44% increase since 2020 — and said protective‑services workloads and Medicaid/SNAP applications have risen substantially. The department reported 110 APS investigations in the most recent 12‑month period (up from roughly 20 in 2006) and large growth in prescreen referrals and benefit caseloads.
The department explained local dollars draw down state and federal matches; its analysis projects that, because of anticipated state and federal revenue for FY‑26, the county would need roughly $46,000 in additional local funding to support all three positions in the coming year (less if fewer positions are added). Pate emphasized supervisors are currently overloaded and that state reviews and quality requirements (for SNAP and Medicaid) require supervisor time and independent case review.
Board members asked for more detail about which mandates carry state/federal matches and how quickly new hires could be trained; Pate said training a benefits worker takes 2–3 years and APS/benefit work is time‑intensive. Supervisors did not take a funding vote during the work session but included the department’s request as part of the FY‑26 budget discussions.
