Human Services staff report progress on audits and training amid attorney transition

Rio Blanco County human-services staff updated commissioners on March 24 about a range of operational items, including a state management review, pending SNAP audit, staffing and training funded by a Higpuff grant.

Carmen, the county human-services presenter, told commissioners the eligibility team has ‘‘been doing great’’ through recent rule changes and that staff resolved several corrective items by locating and providing required contracts (for Language Line interpreter services) and posters required by the state. She said the county will host a SNAP review in May; because the county is small, the state typically samples only a few cases. Carmen said the department expects to use a Higpuff training grant to bring in a consultant (Bri Brock) to deliver in-person training and to pay staff overtime when needed.

Staffing and legal counsel: Carmen and others described an ongoing transition to new legal counsel (Koi Dingdoom and partner firms) who are taking over child-welfare and child-support work. Commissioners thanked staff for addressing review findings and completing corrective actions.

Why it matters: Management/audit findings can affect state compliance and federal funding. Carmen said corrective items had been resolved or are being addressed; the board was updated on training and continuity plans to reduce future findings.

Next steps: Human Services will provide details on the SNAP review sample size and follow up training schedules. Commissioners were invited to join staff training sessions and will receive written updates on outstanding corrective items.