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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 08081995 - D10 D.10 & D.11 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA DATE: August 8, 1995 MATTER OF RECORD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SUBJECT: REPORT FROM THE GENERAL SERVICES DIRECTOR ON CONTRA COSTA COUNTY TELECOMMUNICATIONS; and CONSIDERATION OF FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS TO ISSUES RAISED AT THE 1-680 TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUMMIT. Supervisor Bishop recommended that the Board postpone consideration of Items D.10 and D.11 until sometime in September, 1995. The Board of Supervisors and the General Services Department representative concurred with this recommendation. THIS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY NO BOARD ACTION TAKEN cc: County Administrator General Services Director a:\080895D.10 �. i o TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS -SEL Contra -- _...o� FROM: Barton J. Gilbert, Director of General Services -� Costa County rA coon`�'t DATE: August H, 1995 SUBJECT: Contra Costa County Telecommunications Report SPECIFIC REQUESTS OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION I. RECOMMENDATION: ACCEPT report. II. BACKGROUND AND FINANCIAL IMPACT: On Friday, June 16, 1995, under the leadership of Supervisor Gayle Bishop, District III, the first Telecommunications Summit in Contra Costa County opened the door to discussions among public and private entities supporting and promoting telecommunications to benefit members of the public, especially children, and businesses in Contra Costa County. Supervisor Bishop requested that the General Services Department provide a report on the status of telecommunications in Contra Costa County government and steps being taken to participate in the "super highway" that is revolutionizing the way we can communicate. Different Roles Among County Departments The Growth Management and Economic Development Agency(GMEDA)is involved in partnering with the private sector for telecommunications that affect the whole County. The Office of the County Administrator provides community access cable television and interactive video to serve the public at large; and internally,through its Data Processing Division, it supports County departments in providing services for networking, e-mail, technology planning, new product review, and recommendations on equipment. Through the General Services Department, telecommunications support is provided to serve all County departments and some contract cities, police agencies, CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS UNANIMOUS(ABSENT 1 AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: I HER CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORR COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN MEDIA CONTACT: BARTON J.GILBERT(313-7 AND ENTERED HE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS O E DATE SHOWN. CC: Office of the County Administr Assessor ATTESTED Growth Management conomic Development PHIL BATCHELOR,CLER F THE BOARD OF Health Services SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY MINISTRATOR Library Public W Sher' oroner lal Service BY DEPUTY BJGXB M382 (10 • I Re: Contra Costa County Telecommunications Report Page -2- special districts, and fire districts. In cooperation with Data Processing, General Services procures, installs and maintains telephone lines, circuits, and data cabling for all departments. We also support the microwave system that serves the County's community access television channel and emergency communication departments. The General Services Department provides direct internal support to the County government family which serves the needs of the public in provision of telecommunication services, including emergency services to police, fire and medical agencies. We will be responsible for maintenance of the new community warning system which will directly serve the public. Through the Purchasing Division, we purchase a wide variety of telecommunication services and equipment for all departments. Purchasing staff work closely with the business community that provides equipment, supplies, and services, and with the departments to meet their telecommunication needs on a competitive basis. All departments use telecommunication software within their operations. Many departments, such as the Courts, Health Services, Public Works, Social Service, Library, Sheriff, General Services, the County Administrator, and Assessor, have major systems that may interconnect with other sections, departments, agencies, and/or the public and allow for processing and providing data to enhance operations. Many departments are researching and implementing advanced telecommunications systems that will allow for high-speed transmission of data, video, and voice to provide faster, better, and sometimes lower-cost services. The County Administrator instituted a Communications Committee to provide coordination among departments on telecommunications needs. Departments that provide telecommunication support services to other departments, plus large departments with major systems needs, are members. To assist in identifying what systems are currently in use in departments and what the future needs are for enhanced telecommunication applications, Data Processing took the lead in the Communications Committee to prepare and collate a questionnaire to map out the County picture of the types of telecommunication systems currently being used and what departments want for the future. This is presently being finalized for the Communications Committee to review and will be used to assist in planning a coordinated approach towards implementation of new technologies that will enhance the provision of services within departments and from County departments to the public. General Services Department Telecommunications Support to the County General Services has responsibility for telecommunication systems that serve all County departments. Telecommunications technical staff provide maintenance, repair, and support for the Countywide integrated telecommunications network that includes 14 PBX switches with 2 more being added, approximately 4000 CENTREX and data lines, 2 voice-mail systems with 3500 mailboxes, a unique nurse-call sequencer system, 4 automated voice attendants, plus a variety of telephone instruments. Radio/Microwave Technicians maintain the County-wide microwave system which has 18 paths and 6 hilltop sites. Lease Management staff assist in preparing license agreements for vault space for agencies that contract with the County for placement of repeaters and equipment at our microwave hilltop locations. The Technicians also install, maintain, and repair portable and base station radios, Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) in patrol cars, and other equipment, such as the electronic alarm system on the perimeter fencing at West County Detention Facility for the Sheriffs Department. Electronic Technicians plan, install, and maintain security, fire, public address, and alarm systems in County facilities. General Services administrative staff process all billings with telecommunication carriers 1 Re: Contra Costa County Telecommunications Report Page -3- and contract agencies, monitor invoices, resolve billing problems, send copies of billings to departments, maintain all telephone listings, prepare copy for printing the County telephone directory, and handle all administrative and fiscal matters related to telecommunications. General Services staff are major participants with County departments in implementing new telecommunications projects. Currently staff are working with Library and Data Processing staff to implement the Library-wide major telecommunications project in all the library branches. We have Technicians and Electricians managing the installation of category 5 data cabling and electrical connections. Telephone Technicians are working with other Building Maintenance staff to install new PBX switches, one of which will be in the Administration Building, as well as numerous other projects and work requests. Staff meet regularly with Pacific Bell to plan coordinated projects; Pacific Bell is working with staff to assist in expanding the County's disaster response plan for telecommunications in the event of a disaster. Radio/Communications staff have participated in the installation of the Community Alert Warning System and have major projects related to the Sheriffs Department and expansion of the microwave system, which will be affected by the FCC auction for Personal Communication Services (PCS) low-band frequencies that public agencies must "sell" to successful bidders. Savings in General Services Telecommunications Operations General Services has provided previous reports on cost savings that have been made through providing telecommunication services to the County. In addition to continued savings that the Department is making by having a pre-paid contract for CENTREX lines with Pacific Bell and buying our own telephone equipment, this year additional savings are being made by using a new long-distance telecommunications carrier that is providing lower cost calling card service, long-distance service, and "800" numbers. A new contract for inmate and County pay telephones is providing additional revenue over the previous contracts. A new one-year contract for "Local Plus" results in savings over previous years, with the possibility of greater savings being available when the contract is up for renewal next year. The estimated annual savings from these changes are $337,000. A non-paid consulting firm, Dimensional Resources, assisted us in obtaining these lower rates. With the interest of telecommunication companies in implementing PCS wireless services, the County can benefit through both license agreements for equipment space at County sites with PCS and cellular companies, and negotiations for our low-band frequencies to allow upgrade of our microwave system. General Services staff are participating in these processes currently. Because we have made many reductions in overhead costs in the past four years, we can offer lower labor costs to provide technical services than it would cost on the outside. By installing data and telephone cabling and switches, as well as designing and installing security and alarm systems and other electronic and communications equipment in-house, we save departments on project installation costs and are able to provide more effective maintenance of the equipment. Over $300,000/year is saved by having the work done by County Technicians. Our Technicians are current on advanced telecommunication technology to allow them to implement new systems and services. • 1 f Re: Contra Costa County Telecommunications Report Page -4- The County's on "Go" for the Telecommunications Super Highway County departments are joining the Telecommunications Information Super Highway in a variety of ways as shown above. Support departments, including the Administrator's Office, Data Processing, Contra Costa Television, GMEDA, and General Services, are working closely together to provide an interdisciplinary team to work with departments to provide services that will include voice, data, video, and multimedia communication that cross department lines. Technologies may include local area networks (LANs) which connect multiple work locations to access the databases and programs on the client servers and have gateways or bridges to public telecommunications networks; Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) for a switched telephone system for voice and data, packet switching for efficiently moving large amounts of digital data; microwave to transmit telephone, facsimile, video, and data conversations; asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) which is a fast, cell-switched technology based on a fixed-length 53-byte cell for broadband transmissions of audio, data, imaging, or video; fiber optics which uses light beams on thin strands of glass for high bandwidth, relatively low cost, low power consumption, small space needs, and is totally insensitive to electromagnetic interference; and synchronous optical Network (SONET) which is a family of fiber-optic transmission rates from 51.84 Mbps to 13.22 Gbps that transport many digital signals with different capacities. Some of these technologies are still evolving, but they are becoming more available and useful. Depending on applications, different technologies will be used to meet the requirements of desired transmissions. Dedicated connections, decentralized and vastly increased computer processing power, high performance bandwidth and switch capabilities, multimedia, mobility, interactivity, and lower costs are driving this evolution of telecommunications that County departments have already started using. As technologies continue to improve and costs decrease, even more applications will be feasible. t'✓ � '" TEL Ido . Rug 1 , 95 13 : 55 No . 023 P,. 01 V TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: Gayle Bishop, Supervisor, District III DATE: July 25, 1995 SUBJEC,F: Board Consider Follow-up Actions to Issues Raised at the I-680 Telecommunications Summit &PECU IC REQUr.ST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION($)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTQ ICATION The I-680 Telecommunications Summit raised a variety of issues which must be addressed by local government, as well as the private sector and educational institutions, if Contra Costa County is to become economically competitive in the global market of telecommunications. One of those issues is that time is of the essence in creating a competitive edge and climate for attracting and enhancing a world class telecommunications industry. RECOMMENDATION: The Board should consider and direct formulation of appropriate surveys, inventories and planning strategies which reinvent those County processes which will enhance economic competitiveness; considering one or more options, which the County might undertake in concert with the private sector and the educational community. (See attached articles from Western City, June 1995, July edition of the British Midland Airways 1royaber Magaaine, and California C.'ougv, January/February, 1995). For instance: 1. Consider an inventory of our physical telecommunications facilities in key departments which pertain to data processing and land use related activities. This inventory would detail upgrades and costs associated with those upgrades necessary to the County government functioning on an equal basis with those industries which it is trying to attract, promote and nurture. Direct the County Administrator to recommend a preferred process - either in-house prepared or consultant formulated. Costs associated with that process should also be provided as part of.the County Administrator's report. 2_ Acknowledging our pride in our innovative and award-winning building permit process, build on the latent entrepreneurship among our staff by inviting staff and department heads to brainstorm recommendations by which the County can be more responsive in the exchange of information, providing services and promoting economic development. The Board might consider a contest among departments or other incentives to entrepreneurial recommendations. 3. When the Telecommunications Task Force is formed as part of the Contra Costa Economic Partnership, become an active member; committed to implementing agreed upon strategies. 4. Borrow ideas from other counties which have already forged partnerships and developed innovations in the delivery of services to the public at large in telecommunications, such as a County bulletin board which can be interconnected to other governmental agencies. FISCAL IMPACT: Overhauling technology and governmental processes will undoubtedly cost money. At this time those costs are unknown and need to be developed as part of the information gathering. BACKGROUND: At the 1-680 Telecommunications Summit, speakers emphasized the need for a streamlined governmental process, up to date technology and an educated work force - in all sectors. If the County is to become a true partner in the development and nurturing of our telecommunications industry, it must itself be competitive - not lagging behind. The purpose of this request is for our Body to begin the process of evaluation whereby the County can become a true partner in the economic development of Contra Costa. TEL No . Rug 1 , 95 13 : 55 No .023 F . 02 July 25, 1995 Follow-up to the 1-684 Telecommunications Summit Page Two CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: KECOt4aNAATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOI*ZNDATION of SCWpp COMMITTEE PROVE OT)iER S I dNATURE(S ACTION OF BOARD APPROVED AS REC ED OTHER VOTE of SUPERVISORS BY CERTIFY THAT THIS SS A TAUS AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION T N UNANIMOUS (ABSENT )Atm ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF T BVC5 OF SUPEAVISORS O '5 ASSENT: TAIN: ATTESTSD FHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE or SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINIS TOR CC:BOard of Supervisors Attachments 9Y ,DEPUTY i TEL No . Aug 1 ,95 14 :06 No . 025 P .01 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CONTRA COS'T'A COUN7•Y GAYLE BISHOP SUPERVISOR,THIRD DISTRICT TO: Board of Supervisors FROM: Gayle Bishop DATE: August 1, 1995 RE: Amendment to Board of Supervisors Agenda Item SD.13 of 7/25/95 Following please find an additional attath�mept from Social Services Department which includes a petition from concerned staff ir.egarding their ','discontent at being unable to perform all the tasks mandated. Other California counties, i.e.) Sacramento and Santa Clara, are now automated. Contra Costa County should be studying ways in which to becom6 more efficient through technology' that is now available, and has been successful io„other counties. I 18 CROW CANYON COURT 0120 SAN RAMON,CALIFORNIA 94583.1669 • TELEPHONE(510)820.8663 • FACSIMILE(510)820.6627 TEL No . Aug 1 , 95 13 :33 No . 020 P .04 c SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT- Contret Go to County TO Phil Batchelor, County Administrator �� `L''' ' DATE June 28, 1995 FROM Danna Fabella, Assistant County Welfare Dire for CC Robert Hofmann Burd of Supervisors SUBJ CHILDREN'S SERVICES WORKERS' PETITION Attached please find a letter and petition addressed to me from Jan Watson, SEIU Local 535 President, dated June 1, 1995. As per Ms. Watson's request, I am forwarding a copy to you for your review. Also attached please find my letter of response to Jan Watson dated June 28, 1995. DF:ceb Attachments b:wrkpctit.ph [-disk 2 TEL No . Rug 1 ,95 13 :33 No . 020 P .05 jujs 01 199 c rl i June 1, 1995 i i Danna Fabella, Assistant Director Social Service Department 40 Douglas Drive Martinez, CA. 94553 { I I SOCIAL SFRVI(fS Dear Ms. Fabella, i Ui41ON Recently the leadership of SEIU Local 535 held a series of noon meetings with Ch_ l dre. ' er i workers in each district. We found them to AMERICAN be overwhelmed, frustrated and tired. They expressed their discontent at being unable to perform all the tasks mandated on each case in addition FEDERATION to the requirements set forth by the court. The lack of comprehensive OF NURSES training in the implementation of SB1125 has added another burden onto social workers who find that increasingly, little of their time is 66127TH STREET spent serving the children, since the completion of various forms and reports takes precedence. OAKLAND GLIFORNIA As you know, the Social Casework Specialists in this department are dedicated, caring individuals interested in protecting children and 94612 strengthening families. However, they are also human beings with lim- itations as to what. they can accomplish in a 40 hour work week. By 510693676b way of the enclosed petitions, these social workers are sending a very FAX510-893-0934strong message to the department and the County that something must be done, and soon, to address their concerns and to ensure the safety of the children they serve. We strongly suggest that this message be forwarded ort to the County Administrator. and the Board of Super- visors. We don' t believe that these workers will accept the rhetoric put forth by the department the past few years regarding staffing levels. It is time that the CAO and the Board know exactly what is happening in Children's Services, and take action to remedy the situation. We would like a response to this action from the department within two weeks of receipt. ""Thank you for your consideration of this most urgent mc!tt-er. S ncereiy, f �.i� Z,rk / an Watson, President cc: Bub Hofmann Judy Campbell Damita Davis-Howard Representation Comn-:ittee Other offices in Savomonto,Son Jose,Fresno,los Angeles,Santa Borboto and San Diego Affiliated with Service Employees Internotional Union AFL-(f0 0( TEL No . Aug 1 , 95 13 :33 No .020 P .06 To: Danna Fabella from: Social Casework Staff Re: Caseload Crisis As a result of a continuing crisis of high caseloads and insufficient staffing we the undersigned caseworkers wish to make the following statement. The Department of Social Services has been aware for several years that the assigned workload for caseworkers is unmanageable. The Nault-Baba grievance of 1990, which occurred almost five years ago, highlighted a problem of workload that was at that time already several years old. Since that time the assigned work per caseload has dramatically increased, as have case counts in several areas. We recognize that the county has undergone repeated financial difficulties, and that many of the management staff and supervisors have made great efforts to solve this problem. However, the problem still continues to get worse, and it appears to many of us that the only answers to staff from management reflect an inability to deal effectively with this problem. The recent failure of the state audit is forcing the matter to a level of crisis that can no longer be dealt with by imposing on the good will and diligence of the staff. For many years staff has stated that the workload requirements, set by the state, could not be accomplished with the level of staffing provided by the county. Concerns have been raised through proper channels for years. The best response we have received is the covert understanding of supervisors that they agree it is impossible to comply with state regulations under these circumstances, and that although they could not tell us it was acceptable to not complete mandatory tasks, our good faith efforts were sufficient. We are now being put in the position of being told that the caseloads will be increasing even more, that the state regulations must be complied with, and the attitude of the administration seems ever more unyielding and mean spirited towards the workers. We are therefore resolved that the only way to resolve the matter is to attempt to give the Department a tool to bargain with to increase staffing levels. We therefore are formally notifying the county of the following; 1) The current workload crisis is so severe that we can no longer be responsible for the safety and wellbeing of the children assigned to us. The county must face the full legal liability for any and all litigation that results from inadequacies in the supervision and services it is mandated to provide to these minors. 2) The county is currently out of compliance with state regulations, and will continue to be so until the i workload issues are addressed. Staff have made heroic j efforts to comply with these requirements for many years, and have found it simply can not be done at these staffing levels. We feel we have been extremely f TEL No . Aug 1 , 95 13 :33 No . 020 P .07 understanding, and would like to continue to be so, but are now in an impossible situation where we have no Choice but to contemplate serious actions. If the county desires workers to perform the additional tasks required to bring the county into compliance, we must be relieved of an equal or greater portion of the current workload. ——_ ----- __, __T--------------- ---------------- - ______________ __ -------------- _ —____o. raw- ..•.--....-_�.� _- ___ _________ -fes -------- c. C-�Lc tt.{^[� /f•(� % �rL----————————— --- ---- - ------------------- �Ul ty , f " 7�.=-----.------- . ..-_-- ------------ � y - --------- 4 v t -- -- - ----------- Bim' -- - - --------------- 0-) ----------------------------- } i r � TEL No . Aug 1 , 95 13 :33 No . 020 P . 08 u'�-�' 1 -- �� -----------w---------- :.x/,----------r----- -- - _�---_---- ---------- — d-- ------------------- -- -- -----------�---------------- --------------- = - -- - ------_--------- Lt.i (: L Lt ---------------__ zy_lC� ----------------- ---------- -------------------_-..__ i ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ --------------------------- ---__- j ------------------------------------ ----- ------------------------------ f ti ------------------------------------ i i TEL No . Aug 1 , 95 13 : 33 No . 020 P . 09 understanding, and would like to continue to be so, but are now in an impossible situation where we have no choice but to contemplate serious actions. If the county desires workers to perform the additional tasks required to bring the county into compliance, we must be relieved of an equal or greater portion of the current workload. i J �Ae -C' t C 5 TEL No Rug 1 , 95 13 :33 No .020 P . 10 understanding, and would like to continue to be so, but are now in an impossible situation where we have no choice but to contemplate serious actions. If the county desires workers to perform the additional tasks required to bring the county into compliance, we must be relieved of an equal or greater portion Of the current workload. 47 4'41Y ,4A TEL No . Aug 1 ,95 13 :33 No . 020 P . 11 • I i -- ------{�, ------------------- 7------------ may_ — --------------- ---------- Z---------- ------ ------------------------------------- --------------------------------•----- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ -------------- ------------------- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------.--------- --------------- ------------------------------------ ----------------------------- ------ ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- I I � 1 Y TEL No . Aug 1 , 95 13 :33 No . 020 P . 12 ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- t ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ----------------------------------- r ----------------------------------- .-.- -------. ..__-------------------- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------ x TEL No . Aug 1 , 95 13 :33 No . 020 P . 13 -------------- ------------------- ct�J5, LJ ----- __--- — --------------------- �'�- ti `�' RLe�s, t'ty ', j144T'y Coe !y ---------------------------------------- ^� VUOL/ c' -------------------------------------- ". " . .,`� .� -u-•.�. , , ----------------------------------- ----------------- --------------------- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- -- ---------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ --------- -- '--------------- TEL No . Aug 1 ,95 13 : 33 No . 020 P . 14 understanding, and would like to continue to be so, but are now in an impossible situation where we have no choice but to contemplate serious actions. If the county desires workers to perform the additional tasks required to bring the county into compliance, we must be relieved of an equal or greater portion of the current workload. ---------------- -- - --- --------------- ----------- -- - ------- ----------- ---- ------------------------------------ --------------------- ---•-------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------- ---------------- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- ----- ----- � ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------- ------------------------ ----- ------------------------- TEL No . Aug 1 , 95 13 :33 No . 020 P . 15 CAL Vl� C ---------------------------'---------- -------------------------_-------_-_ F � ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ j ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- - - ------------------------------------- ------------------------- - ------------------------------------- ---------------------_------------------ --------------------------_...---------- ----------------------------------- j ---Jnr.—_____-- ......_..---_.--_--.----- -------------------- -------------- ------------------------------------ TEL No . Aug 1 , 95 13 : 33 No . 020 P . 16 i PlpAse reply to: � Social Service Department ContraPlease Douglas Drive 1 Cos}a Martinez,California 94553-4088 ! tX� ` (510)313.1583 Pawl Hofmann County Acting County Welfare Director June 28, 1995 Jan Watson, President LOCAL 535 SEIU 661 - 27th Street Oakland, CA 94612 Dear Ms, Watson: am in receipt of your letter dated June 1, 1995, and the petition titled "Caseload Crisis" which was signed by approximately 100 staff. Your letter mentions several concerns but primarily focused on Children's Services workers feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and tired. I believe it has been a difficult year for staff with all the publicity as a result of the negative Grand Jury report, a non-compliance review by the California Department of Social Services on Division 31 Regulation implementation and simply trying to adapt to the many demands of the job. ' However, I would like to make several comments. First, you state that "administration seems even more unyielding and mean spirited towards the workers." As you know, the County's budget situation has been of concern, and our Department was required to take approximately a three-million-dollar cut in our fiscal year 95-96 budget. All County departments were placed on a hard freeze with almost no permanent positions being approved by the County Administrator's Office (CAO), After discussion with the CAO regarding the importance of the case work we do with families, we were able to obtain approval for three permanent supervisors and three case workers in Children's Services even though there have been very few permanent positions approved Countywide. This was accomplished because of our Department's administration's as well as the CAD's commitment to children. Our perseverance in seeking and obtaining these staffing and budget priorities comes from both the commitment to children as well as to our staff. do TEL No . Aug 1 ,95 13 :33 No . 020 P . 17 Jan Watson, president June 28, 1995 Page 2 Second, our child-welfare caseload has been decreasing over the past several years. For example, for the last three years the average total caseload for our child welfare programs has been: 1992: 2,105 1993: 1,984 1994: 1,843 Third, the services programs are not part of our Department's three-million- dollar FY 95-96 County budget cut. We are targeting the General Assistance program for reductions. Although we were not able to request additional positions thus far, we have been able to prevent reductions. Fourth, the Board of Supervisors continued additional funding for Children's Services in the adoption program. This resulted in permanent positions being added to the adoption program this year. Fifth, the Board of Supervisors approved the addition of one permanent training supervisor for Children's Services to focus specifically on child welfare issues. Ido.agree that the increase in the complexity of the families we work with and the many systems, both formal and informal, that we must collaborate with further complicate child welfare services. Managers and supervisors strive to create a structure which can meet the needs of the children and families we work with and assist workers in their case work. As a committed child welfare professional and as this Department's administrator for this program, I support the strengthening of these services by Increasing training of staff, providing supervision and support to staff, stabilizing staffing levels, restructuring our services when necessary and developing policies and practices to ensure we deliver quality child welfare services. I will forward your letter and the petition to the County Administrator's Office and the Board of Supervisors. However, I do wish to note that your petition states "the current workload crisis is so severe that we can no longer be responsible for the safety and well being of the children assigned to us." The Department and the County does, of course, have legal responsibility for work done under its authority, but it is important to remember that staff are also responsible for the work assigned to them I including required home visits to children in their caseload to assess their safety and well being. If staff believe they cannot make these mandatory contacts, they must let their supervisors know so that joint decisions on work to be completed can be made. In this way we can work together to triage and prioritize work and ensure the welfare + of children under our Department's care. I I TEL No . Aug 1 , 95 13 :33 No - 020 P . 18 Jan Watson, President June 28, 1995 i Page 3 Please be advised that I too remain concerned about worker morale and had the opportunity to talk to staff at my all-staff district meetings in June. I remain open to suggestions from staff concerning our work and hope that together we can develop the best possible casework processes, I Sincerely, Janna Fabella Assistant County Welfare Director DF:ceb CC., Robert Hofmann Judy Campbell Damita Davis-Howard Representation Committee