To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Human Services Department & Public Defender’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Katie Greaves (707) 565-8501
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Transfer Social Service Worker III Position from the Human Services Department to the Public Defender’s Office
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Position Resolution to transfer a vacant 1.0 time-limited FTE Social Service Worker III position from the Human Services Department to the Public Defender’s Office.
end
Executive Summary:
On April 6, 2021 the Board of Supervisors accepted the terms and conditions of grant funding from the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Indigent Defense Program grant (funded through State Budget Act of 2020, Senate Bill 74). The position resolution added 1.0 time-limited FTE Social Service Worker III in the Human Services Department (HSD) and 1.0 time-limited FTE Deputy Public Defender IV in the Public Defender’s Office to support the Indigent Defense Program. The Indigent Defense Program was designed to address the staffing, training, and case management needs of Public Defender Offices. The Sonoma County Public Defender’s Office will utilize the Social Worker III position to assist clients with services as an alternative to incarceration, developing factors in mitigation, and working with local criminal and social justice partners to assist clients in transitional housing and other social services options. The quest for an improvement in the quality of life for those that the office services is the ultimate goal toward reducing recidivism.
The Social Service Worker III position will assist with meeting Public Defender clients’ increasingly complex needs and coordinate services with Public Defender attorneys, the courts and probation. The position will be embedded full-time in the Public Defender’s office through the term of the grant ending on May 31, 2023.
Based on the nature of the job responsibilities and with concurrence from both the Human Services and Public Defender departments, this position would be best situated in the Public Defender’s office.
Discussion:
The original rationale for having the Social Service Worker III position allocated to the Human Services Department was based on a perceived need to efficiently access HSD safety net services for clients to be served through this grant program. Subsequently, however, it was determined that existing collaborative structures and processes, such as the ACCESS Sonoma IMDT collaborative, already allow ready access to HSD services. Therefore, the administrative complexities of having two departments in an oversight role of a single position presents more costs and challenges than actual benefits.
Transferring the Social Service Worker III position to the PD’s office will allow the following:
- Administrative and Human Resource functions will be administered through the PD’s office directly, including recruitment, particularly as it relates to recruiting candidates who understand the legal system.
- The PD’s office will be more effective at overseeing this position including onboarding, addressing personnel issues, training, and time allocation.
Monthly billing associated with the BSCC grant will be managed by the Public Defender’s office, thus not causing unnecessary delays between departments.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
April 6, 2021 - Accepted Board of State and Community Corrections grant funding in the amount of $882,320 and added time-limited position allocations.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 21-22 Adopted |
FY22-23 Projected |
FY 23-24 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
164,750 |
164,750 |
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
164,750 |
164,750 |
0 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
164,750 |
164,750 |
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
164,750 |
164,750 |
0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There is no fiscal impact on the HSD budget at this time. The position is still in the recruitment process, and all necessary budget adjustments will be included in the Public Defender’s FY21-22 Q2 Consolidated Budget Adjustments.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
Social Service Worker III |
5,308.24 - 6,452.68 |
1 (in PDO) |
1 (in HSD) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
There are no staffing impacts as the position has not yet been filled.
Attachments:
Position Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None