Human Services

The Human Services Office (HSO) functions to ensure that community needs are addressed through providing linkage for and between human service agencies within the community. These agencies provide services through the Children Services Act program to identified children and families within Stafford that are collaborative, child centered and family focused.

• Works with agencies and organizations within the community to strengthen the network of human services in the region, including forming relationships with leaders to improve communication and collaboration and assess what types of programs or development are needed.
• Manages and implements the Children’s Services Act (CSA) program, which provides funding for children within the custody of the Department of Social Services, children identified through the school system that have an Individual Education Plan, as well as prevention services for at-risk youth within the community who are identified through agencies such as the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board, County Schools, and the Department of Social Services (DSS).
• Ensures quality of services is accessible to all identified at-risk youth and families.
• Coordinates with child-serving agencies within the community to create a collaborative and comprehensive approach to service delivery.
• Oversees and coordinates reviewing funding applications and making budget recommendations for nonprofit and intergovernmental human services organizations seeking funding from the County.
• Strives to create external and internal opportunities to assist citizens in need within the community; the Safety Net program is one example. This program was established to meet the needs of citizens who may be in an emergent situation and who do not meet the guidelines of receiving assistance through DSS. Funds are donated to the program.

Personnel

• 4.5% Pay Scale Adjustment
• 2.0% Salary Increase
• 2.13% increase in Virginia Retirement System Rate
• .03% decrease in the Virginia Retiree Health Insurance Credit Rate

• Private day school increase assumes 2% costs increase and 1.4% increase in participation

Staff communicated changes to all key stakeholders in line with contract requirements and continuity of operations, including processing invoices and issuing payments to vendors, for services rendered. Further, analysis had to be conducted in collaboration with the local school division regarding costs associated with private day school services, the most significant budgetary driver for the CSA budget.

• Collaborate with community-based agencies to expand available community resources to serve at-risk children and families. This approach is more cost-effective and further supports the families in our community. (Service level 7)
• Collaborate and partner with the school division to enhance public day school services while reducing the need for private day school placements to special education students. (Service level 5)
• Create a more comprehensive system of linking human service agencies to have a more global approach to meeting the needs of identified families within our community. In its efforts to support the County’s value of Stronger Together, this office will facilitate and coordinate improved communication among agencies and facilitate the development of partnerships to maximize limited resources. (Service level 2)
• Maintain an effective utilization management system in reviewing services provided through the Family Assessment and Planning Team for alignment with the CANS assessment, a statewide tool, and track outcomes of services rendered for effectiveness in treatment. (Service level 1)
• Implement identified objectives within the plan for Human Services that will ensure the County is leveraging service opportunities and scarce resources in meeting the needs of families and children within the community and will continue to provide an opportunity for agency leaders to collaborate and work on improving relationships between agencies that will increase the comprehensive care provided to the families and children of Stafford County. (Service level 2)