Title
From the Interim Director, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), requesting authorization to create 4 Disability Benefits Specialist positions in the Disabilities Services Division (DSD) effective February 21, 2011. (Referred to the Committees on Finance and Audit, Personnel, the Department of Administrative Services, and Division of Human Resources.)
Body
REQUEST
The Interim Director of the Milwaukee County Department of Health & Human Services is requesting the creation of four Disability Benefits Specialist positions to be assigned to the Disability Resource Center (DRC).
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS
In 2010, the Disabilities Services Division (DSD) began operating the DRC, which provides information and referral services to consumers with disabilities, ages 18 to 59. The DRC also assists consumers in understanding the long-term care options available to them and helps people apply for programs and benefits.
As one of the primary services provided by the DRC, the Disability Benefits Specialist (DBS) program is a required service for all State funded, certified Aging and Disability Resource Centers throughout Wisconsin. The DBS program assists all Milwaukee County residents who are interested in seeking and obtaining private or public benefits such as Family Care, Family Care Partnership, Supplementary Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), Medicaid or other benefits for which they are eligible. Program attorney services are also provided through a contract between the State Department of Health Services (DHS) and Disability Rights Wisconsin attorneys.
In 2010, DSD contracted out the DBS function and expected to do so in the 2011 Budget. However, DSD now plans to perform this function utilizing County staff rather than a vendor due to program oversight concerns, closer working relationships with economic support staff as well as continuity of communication with other DRC staff and outside attorneys. By operating this program with internal staff, Milwaukee County would also be consistent with other ADRCs in the State of Wisconsin.
DSD is therefore, requesting the creation of four Disability Benefits Specialist positions. The vendor, Independence First, is currently under contract with Milwaukee County to provide these services from January to June for a not-to-exceed amount of $186,875. A contract with Independence First for the first half of 2011 is needed to recruit and train County staff to ensure continuous operations of this critical DRC function. If the new positions can be filled and trained prior to the end of Independence First's contract, the contract will not be fully expended.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that these positions be created to support the DBS program for the Disability Resource Center and to ensure individuals with disabilities have access to public benefits and services for which they are eligible in Milwaukee County.
FISCAL EFFECT
The 2011 net estimated fiscal effect of the creation of the four Disability Benefits Specialists is $186,542, which reflects salary at step one in pay range 12Z, social security, and active health and pension. This cost assumes an estimated start date of May 2, 2011 and is offset with $186,875 in funds budgeted in the purchase of service contract line for DBS. These funds will no longer be obligated to an outside contract in the Disability Resource Center. Instead, DSD plans to peform this function internally with County staff.
The total amount budgeted for the DBS component of the DRC is $373,750. A not-to-exceed contract in an amount of $186,875 was executed with Independence First to perform this function through the end of June 2011. The remaining $186,875 is available to fund these four positions.
Approved by:
Geri Lyday
Interim Director Department of Health & Human Services
cc: Steve Kreklow, Fiscal and Budget Administrator, DAS
John Ruggini, Assistant Fiscal & Budget Administrator, DAS
Antionette Thomas-Bailey, Fiscal & Management Analyst
Jennifer Collins, County Board Staff
Jodi Mapp, County Board Staff