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Human Services director outlines out-of-home care workload, emphasizes family reunification
Summary
Human Services Director Jill Bender told the board the department’s Family & Children program uses 46 full-time and 20 part-time staff and said 'Reuniting families is the primary goal.' She noted neglect has been the most common reason children enter out-of-home care over the past decade.
Human Services Director Jill Bender presented an overview of the department’s structure and focused on out-of-home care during the Sept. 18 Vernon County Board meeting. She said the Family & Children unit and related services employ 46 full-time and 20 part-time staff and described the complexity of cases handled by the county.
Bender said that over the last decade, neglect has been the most prominent reason children enter out-of-home care and that the department places priority on reunifying families. "Reuniting families is the primary goal," Bender said. The presentation included a brief staffing overview (Child Support, ARDC, Longterm Support, Public Assistance, Financial, and Family & Children units) and noted the county's ADRC program has served over 24,000 meals.
The presentation did not propose policy changes at the meeting; it served to inform the board about caseload drivers, staffing levels, and program priorities in Vernon County.
