Date: Fri 15-Jan-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: JAN

Quick Words:

Social-services-Rosenthal

Full Text:

Town To Review Its Social Service Needs

BY JAN HOWARD

The town has begun an assessment of the social services needs of the community

that could bring about the reorganization of the department.

As a temporary measure to replace Karen Hoyt, the former director of human

services who stepped down from that position this week, First Selectman

Herbert Rosenthal said Tuesday the town has contracted with the Family

Counseling Center to provide the town with a social worker on an hourly basis

for several hours a week.

"The office will be staffed between an administrative assistant and a social

worker every day," Mr Rosenthal said. "The social worker will also go out in

the field."

He said a report on the structuring of hours was to be completed by January

15.

The center will also do an evaluation of the social services the community

needs so a long-term solution can be reached within the next two to three

months.

In the meantime, Mr Rosenthal said he is asking all employees of the

department to report to his office about their weekly activities so he can get

a feel of what everyone does.

Currently the department has the following organization: a director of human

services who oversees the senior center director; an outreach worker for the

elderly; a municipal agent for the elderly; and an administrative staff

person. Until Mrs Hoyt's departure, only the director and administrative

position were staffed in the social services office.

The department's responsibilities include social casework for individuals and

families and acting as the liaison to local and state social service agencies.

The assessment could bring about a shift in personnel in the department,

according to the first selectman.

Mr Rosenthal said he sought recommendations from Mrs Hoyt and the Human

Services Commission, which meets quarterly. He has also met with Director of

Health Mark Cooper, Executive Director Judy Benson of Family Counseling

Center, Director Deborah Richardson of Newtown Youth Services, and the

Commission on Aging.

A committee has been formed to decide how the department should be staffed.

The committee consists of Gene Marks of the Commission on Aging, Mae Schmidle

of the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA), School Social Worker DeEtta

Breitwieser, Ms Benson, Ms Richardson and Mr Cooper.

There are several options that are being considered, Mr Rosenthal said. All

options will be evaluated before a final decision is made, he added.

One option would include a director, who would be a social worker, and an

administrative assistant. Another scenario might be to make the health

director the department head, depending on the duties, and hiring a social

worker.

Another option, suggested by the Commission on Aging, would make the senior

center, including a combined outreach worker/municipal agent, a separate

department.

The town is currently advertising for applicants for the outreach

worker/municipal agent position.

A social worker is an important part of the department's role, he said, but

whether a full- or part-time position is needed will be part of the

assessment.

"It may be more cost effective to contract out to a non-profit group, such as

Family Counseling Center or the VNA," he said. "We need to provide human

services at the most effective cost to fill the need."

He said, while the state has taken over general assistance (previously handled

by the department), people still need guidance in where to go for help or in

filling out and filing some of the forms.

Some of the duties of the present office could be taken over by volunteers, Mr

Rosenthal said.

"We want to encourage volunteer efforts. Government should be a facilitator.

It can't solve all the problems," he said. "Somebody has to be the organizer,

the facilitator, to pull the volunteers together."

Mr Cooper said recently that his department gets involved in social services

issues on a case-by-case basis, such as conducting an evaluation of housing

conditions.