| Big Radio News Staff |
Rock County’s Human Services division asks the county board for the OK to hire 11 new employees.
The new workers would specialize as case managers for children who receive long-term support for disabilities.
County Human Services Director Kate Luster says her division is required to hire nine case managers and two supervisors to keep up with what she says is rapidly growing demand for long-term services for disabled kids.
State law requires counties to meet staffing standards for employees who handle in-home meet-ups and casework management for youths with disabilities. The hires would be fully paid through a $568,000 boost in state Medicaid.
Luster’s division now has staff enough to manage 1,200 children with disabilities. As of January, the county’s caseload grew to 1,325 children. Luster says 200 more children could qualify before the end of 2025.
She says the hires allow the county to stay in compliance with a state limit of 45 days on wait times for long-term care.
A resolution heads to the Human Services Committee Wednesday afternoon and could head to the full board as soon as Thursday.
