Community Services highlights CHW award, reimbursements and approves coordinator job posting

Community Service Director Sarah Faust told the board on May 12 that Community Health Worker Paige Welling was named South Dakota Community Health Worker of the Year and described recent program activity and reimbursements.

Sarah reported April activity: 48 individuals served in the month, 103 total client contacts in April, and 45 clients currently enrolled in the CHW 'impact' program. She said the county received about $2,831.50 in Medicaid reimbursement for April and $4,263 in grant reimbursement from the Department of Health—"over $6,000," she said—that helps cover CHW positions.

Sarah also said a staff member (Carrie) has left and the department will recruit a replacement. Commissioners considered a revised job description to convert an administrative specialist position to a Community Care Coordinator (a CHW-focused role at a lower pay grade than the prior administrative specialist). Commissioner Gable moved to approve the revised job description; Commissioner Schwear seconded, and the motion carried. The board then approved advertising and hiring the position.

Sarah described outreach plans (meetings with churches, businesses and the school district), an upcoming child care planning meeting in June, and an inter-agency steering committee celebrating five years. She invited commissioners to review the updated monthly report and demographic breakdown provided in the packet.

Next steps: the county will post the Community Care Coordinator job, recruit to fill workload gaps for CHWs, and continue evaluating program reporting and reimbursement flows.