Melinda: Caseloads down; child-care waitlist removed in Dolores County social-services update

Melinda, a social services staff member, updated the Dolores County Board of County Commissioners on department caseloads and administrative changes during the meeting.

She told commissioners that the department is handling 528 total eligibility cases across adult financial assistance, Colorado Works, Medicaid and food assistance; the department is also managing 40 child-support cases and 94 "leak" cases that staff have reviewed so far this year. Melinda said the office closed one adult-protection case in February, has three open child-protection cases and currently has one child-care case. She said overall caseloads are lower than last year, attributing the decline to milder weather and reduced advertising.

On the question of a line item labeled "fraud repayment," Melinda explained it refers to recovered benefits from an individual who was investigated: "the fraud repayment is ... them paying back the benefits that they owe to the county." She also said one child-care case closed after a fraud investigation and another closed because the children are now school age; as a result, the department has removed its child-care waitlist to allow more flexibility to accept new child-care cases.

The board briefly discussed a housekeeping nomination: Miranda and another staff member were nominated for a child-welfare recognition award that the state has approved; the presentation is scheduled for the board's regular meeting in April around 10:00 a.m.

Melinda and the commissioners did not present dollar totals in this update. Several terms used in the report—most notably the transcript reference to "leak" cases—were not defined in the record and were reported as stated by staff. The department indicated staffing and personnel costs are the largest components of recent expenditures but did not provide a detailed budget breakdown during this update.

The board thanked staff for the report and proceeded to formal business.