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Human Services committee reviews 2025 annual report, flags staffing and contract reviews
Summary
Kenosha County's Human Services Committee reviewed the department's 2025 Annual Report, discussed staffing shortages and pay competition with hospitals, and agreed to examine program contracts and divisions in future meetings.
The Kenosha County Human Services Committee on May 5 reviewed the Department of Human Services' 2025 Annual Report and discussed staffing challenges and a planned review of program contracts.
Rebecca Dutter, Department of Human Services staff member, distributed the annual report and walked the committee through program-level sheets that list whether a program is mandated, the governing law if applicable, funding sources, a description and the number of people served. Dutter noted the program sheets "do not give us successes," and recommended presenting division directors when the committee reviews those areas.
The committee focused much of its discussion on workforce issues. Supervisor Robinson said county health and social-service positions are losing candidates to hospitals and other employers, noting, "We are not just talking about $1-$2 difference in salary per hour. We are talking about $15 an hour with hospitals for nurses and signing bonuses." Dutter said certain nurse positions may require different advertising because some positions are Monday through Friday office roles rather than 24/7 nursing posts; she also said economic-support roles historically have recurring vacancies because they are phone-based and demanding.
Supervisor Decker asked for an example of how the county uses embedded social workers; Kari Foss, staff member, described scenarios in which embedded social workers partner with the Sheriff's Department and the Pleasant Prairie Police Department to support officers and residents in crisis.
On next steps, Chairman Stocker and other supervisors discussed scheduling deeper reviews of program contracts and divisions so the committee can determine which services are mandated and how they are funded. Stocker said he would like to review roughly five divisions and would try to schedule up to ten if feasible; Supervisor Brown asked staff to identify which programs staff view as most vital and how the committee could best make an impact. Supervisor Decker said she wants the committee to see why services are contracted out and whether those arrangements are the best use of resources.
Procedural business at the meeting included a motion by Supervisor Robinson to approve the April 8, 2026 minutes, seconded by Supervisor Knezz; the committee voted "All in Favor" and the motion carried. Supervisor Brown later moved to adjourn; Supervisor Knezz seconded and the meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
The committee did not take formal votes on staffing changes or contract reviews at this meeting; members agreed to return to those topics in future sessions and to bring division directors and program sheets for detailed review.
