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Marquette County DHS reports staffing shortfalls, growing food-bank demand and program changes
Summary
Marquette County Department of Human Services leaders told the board March 3 that clinic staffing shortages (four vacancies in a 10-person clinic), rising food-bank use, clinical waitlists and changes to school-based prevention programming are straining services; staff outlined short-term workarounds and upcoming presentations.
Marquette County Department of Human Services Director Mandy Stanley told the board on March 3 that the department is short-staffed and adapting service delivery to avoid interruptions. Director Mandy Stanley said the clinic currently has four vacancies out of a 10-person staff and that the department has arranged EMS support to cover nursing gaps while recruitment continues.
The board heard multiple operational reports. Clinical Services manager Dawn Woodard reported 19 people on the outpatient waitlist, six on the Children’s Comprehensive Services (CCS) waitlist, and four residential placements. Woodard said the department will not deliver the Prime for Life prevention program at Westfield School this term because of staff vacancy and will pursue alternative methods to meet a 20% prevention requirement.
Finance staff Jennifer Vote said the food bank served 321 households (704 people) in the period reported, including 13 new households, and that staff are finalizing terms on two new grants to support food assistance. "We continue to see demand and are working through grant agreements to increase capacity," Vote said.
Veteran services updates came from Veteran’s Services Officer Brandon Enck, who said the office closed nine cases and has roughly 95 active cases; he described outreach plans to contact every American Legion and VFW post in the county by summer and noted a pending change in VA processing intended to streamline approval of benefits for spouses and dependents.
Jessie Cody of Children and Family Services reported two children in out-of-home placement and reiterated that a safety plan and available services are prerequisites to receive Trauma Services and Supports (TSSF) funds, a requirement that can complicate placements. Economic Support and Child Support staff Annett Eckes reported 2,609 individuals enrolled in a county healthcare program, 13,183 call-center contacts in February, and 794 open child-support cases, and said the office is meeting federal standards.
Other routine items included a review of the 2025 Community Support Program annual report (shared by Dawn Woodard), a nutrition-month presentation by Jan Krueger and presenter Amelia Cisewski (during which board member Peggy Krause requested annual meal-cost data), and notices about upcoming committee meetings and presentations. Krueger said the Goodwill volunteer tax program is full for Marquette County and announced a Home Safety presentation March 17.
The board approved the meeting agenda and the minutes of its Feb. 2 meeting by voice vote, set its next meeting for April 6, 2026 at 1:00 p.m., and adjourned at 2:09 p.m.
