When it comes to staffing and cost for service, Sherburne County Health & Human Services (HHS) ranks among the most efficient and cost-effective in the state.
In her year-end report to the Sherburne County Board Tuesday, HHS Director Mary Jo Cobb said in a comparison with other similar community health boards across the state, the county’s per capita expenditures were $24.56, compared to the state average of $55.15
The county’s staff to population ratio (fulltime employees per 100,000) was 23.50 compared to the statewide average of 42.99.
Although HHS total expenditures were $138 million, Cobb said county taxpayers covered only a small percentage with levy dollars.
Of the $138,036,301 in revenues, $68,103,961 came from the federal government. The state contributed $62,099,801, social service program revenue was $1,642,934 and the county’s share was $6,189,605.
“We’d like to think of that as an investment that allows us earn another $132 million,” said Cobb.
She said 2016 was a year of “greater expectations,” with new state requirements in child protection leading to more maltreatment reports being assessed or investigated.
In 2015 and 2016, HHS had to add seven new child protection positions to keep up with the increased caseload.
With the increased number of child protection investigations came a significant increase in out-of-home placements. The number of placements jumped from 134 in 2015 to 161 in 2016, while the out-of-home placement budget went from $1,060,613 to $1,584,066.
And as a result of those placements, the number of relative foster care licenses has also been increasing, which impacts the number of licensing caseloads.
The department had 36 in 2015. That increased to 69 in 2016. Along with the increase, licensing complaints requiring facility investigations increased 56% over the last year.
Cobb said HHS expects the number of foster care licenses will continue to rise with the increase in child protection cases, out-of-home placements and a shortage of traditional forster care homes across the state.
Other Business
In other action the board:
• Approved the final contract payment of $53,642.61 to Robert R Schroeder Construction for the Co. Rd. 24 project;
• Approved a gambling application for exempt permit for the Big Lake Fire Relief Association for a raffle on Aug. 12 at the Big Lake Fire Dept.;
• Approved a commercial water connection payment of $128,913.12 to the City of Elk River for the Government Center Expansion project;
• Approved a transfer of $7,912 from the county attorney forfeiture fund to the Information Services Dept. to cover licensing Sharepoint, a web-based document management system;
• Approved a tobacco license application for P&A Liquor in Zimmerman;
• Proclaimed the week of April 2-9 as Public Health Week;
• Proclaimed the week of April 22-29 as Infant Immunization Week;
• Proclaimed April as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month;
• Approved a Safe & Secure Courthouse Initiative Grant Application for $70,000 for enhanced security checkpoint, communication equipment and expanded training.
