Friday, March 31, 2000
Children Services urged to add staff
BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — A state audit says the Butler County Children Services needs to hire more caseworkers, coordinate better with other agencies and upgrade its computer technology.
The second phase of the audit, released Thursday, praises the agency for improvements in response to the audit's first phase in October.
“We're going to use this audit as a tool to provide better services,” said Bob Gerhardt, chairman of the Children Services Board. “Overall, I'm pleased with it.”
County commissioners, who requested that the Ohio Auditor's Office conduct the examination of Children Services, will discuss the audit's recommendations in detail with the agency's board, said Commissioner Chuck Furmon.
“We'll be addressing each of those items,” he said.
Children Services has undergone a significant transformation in the past year.
Since voters defeated the second straight Children Services levy in May 1999, the agency has a new executive director, a new board and a new policy of openness toward the public and the families it serves.
The agency has been on more solid financial footing since its 2-mill levy renewal was approved in November.
Children Services has too few caseworkers for the growing number of cases it handles, the audit says.
The average Butler County caseworker has 18 continuing cases, five more than the state recommends.
In recent months, the agency has added about 10 caseworkers and may add more, Mr. Gerhardt said.
“We'll have to evaluate to see if more are needed as we go along,” he said. “We want to get the cases down to a more workable number.”
Improving computer technology also will ease the workload, he said.
The agency performs too many tasks by hand and not enough by computer, the audit says. A greater reliance on computers would improve efficiency and save time, it says.
Children Services has earmarked $1 million in its budget for technology improvements.
The audit acknowledges recent steps the agency has taken to reduce the number of children it places with private foster care providers and increase the number it places with foster parents.
To attract more foster parents, Butler County has increased compensation and is trying to expand recruiting efforts.
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