EATON — Preble County Job and Family Services (JFS) Director Becky Sorrell presented the Preble County (PC) Board of Commissioners her monthly report on Monday, April 24.
Sorrell informed the board she has been in contact with Wood County JFS regarding their Fellowship Program, which uses grant funding to pay for the employment of junior and senior college students enrolled in human services programs. These individuals are not permitted to be employed as case workers; however, they can assist active case workers with other related tasks.
By working through the Fellowship Program, the college students are eventually able to work with JFS as case workers. According to Sorrell, Wood County JFS is able to recruit the students for Preble County, at no additional cost to Preble.
Sorrell expressed her hope this program may alleviate the staffing issues she is currently facing with no other solution. The understaffing within the PC JFS has become so severe, in fact, the PC Commissioners, Sheriff’s Office, Eaton Police Division and the courts held a private work session to discuss solutions for the problem, which negatively impacts each of the aforementioned departments.
Sorrell noted the eligibility requirements for students selected through the Fellowship Program are relatively lax.
“It can be any human service field, and that is a broad definition. So, I’ve said before if you’ve spoken to a human, that counts. It’s psychology, sociology, there’s a family services degree. Criminal justice isn’t one we usually get applicants for. Even education, or anything like that, early childhood education. It’s a local definition — you decide.”
Sorrell said they are currently interviewing and drug screening an experienced case worker recommended by Madison County, as well as creating a new position within the department for paid interns. Sorrell said the new position would have a fairly “loose” job description, and those filling it would not be official case workers.
PC JFS is also considering county drivers to transport case workers to out-of-county locations to provide the workers extra time to work on the drive. Whereas initially the idea was rejected by JFS case workers, they have since expressed interest in trying it on a trial basis.
“I can drive them for a day and see if that’s something they’d like?” offered commissioner Adam Craft.
“If they like it, then we look at hiring somebody part time to do it.”
Commissioners agreed they would all be willing to drive case workers on a temporary basis for a trial period, and should it prove productive, the county will hire more permanent drivers.
In other business:
• According to Sorrell, the department has not received an increased number of calls in response to food and medical assistance being reduced as part of the post-pandemic reduction plan. “So, that’s good news,” remarked Sorrell.
Reach Nathan Hoskins at 937-683-4057.
