The Cayuga County Legislature on Jan. 14 approved a bundled set of Department of Social Services resolutions (HH6, HH7, HH8, HH9, HH10, HH11, HH12, HH16) covering contracts for services ranging from SSI maximization to restorative case management, and approved multiple hiring requests (HH13, HH14) and a Safe Harbor funding acceptance (HH15). The committee pulled HH17 (Qtrack) from the bundle for a small amendment and then passed it as amended.

DSS Director Christine (identified in the meeting as the presenter for these items) described each contract. HH6 and HH7 would continue contracts with Catholic Charities for SSI maximization and supervised visitation. Several resolutions (HH8, HH9, HH10) renew or continue contracts with Kiwi Centers for diversion case management (youth 12–15), family preservation, family support, enhanced foster care support, multi-systemic therapy, and restorative case management; Christine said Kiwi Centers bills Medicaid for reimbursable services and the $550,000 maximum contract with Kiwi reflects net county cost after Medicaid billing. HH11 is a renewal with Chapel House shelter (Franklin Street shelter) at $98 per night that covers shelter and case management; HH12 continues a contract with the Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference for foster-parent recruitment, training and in-home support services. HH16 funds nonresidential domestic violence services with Community Action Program (CAP).

Christine said she intends to examine these contracts with county counsel and procurement to look for cost-saving opportunities (RFP/RFQ work) during the year. For the Qtrack customer-queueing and kiosk software (HH17) Christine said the vendor offered reduced monthly licensing for January and February; the Legislature amended HH17 to state a total annual contract amount of $5,313.10 and added a whereas clause noting that Federal and State reimbursement is 62% for the 2025 DSS budget line.

On staffing, the Legislature approved HH13 to fill three full-time caseworker positions (the department reported a number of pending hires with several start dates in January and February) and HH14 to fill a full-time paralegal specialist. Christine said staffing remains a challenge and that many new hires are newer to the workforce, requiring time-intensive supervision and training. HH15 accepted $3,000 in Safe Harbor funding to contract with Booker T. Washington for services aimed at commercially sexually exploited children, trafficked and at-risk youth.

Christine also reported the department’s emergency housing census as of Dec. 20: 30 families and 113 singles in emergency housing, and said the department is compiling data on rent supplement and rental-arrear assistance usage to share with legislators.