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Board authorizes recruitment for eligibility worker; staff warn state SSIS system complicates training and onboarding
Summary
Houston County authorized a competitive search to fill a public‑health and human‑services eligibility worker vacancy; county staff warned that state SSIS legacy systems complicate training and onboarding for the role.
County administrators and public‑services staff asked the board to authorize a competitive recruitment to replace a retiring eligibility worker. Staff explained the position determines eligibility for a variety of programs, including medical assistance, SNAP and MFIP, and that it is typically an agent of the state and therefore requires training on the state’s Social Services Information System (SSIS).
Public‑services staff said SSIS is dated and requires multiple workarounds; that state upgrade costs are substantial; and that recent legislative funding is intended to begin modernization but local onboarding remains labor intensive. "The AS400 green‑screen 1980s‑style program" analogy was used to underscore staff frustration with legacy systems. Commissioners expressed support for lobbying the state for modernization but approved the county recruitment, noting the position is reimbursed in the county budget.
Next steps: Board authorized staff to initiate the competitive search; staff will proceed with posting and recruitment under county hiring rules and expect the county to recover costs through state reimbursement for the position.
