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224 <br /> <br />REPORT: SOCIAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD ANNUAL REPORT <br /> <br /> Mr. Peter Kratzel, Vice Chairman of the Social Services Advisory Board, <br />presented highlights from the Board's Annual Report. Mr. Kratzel said there is <br />insufficient state and federal funding for day care, and $145,000 more is needed to <br />maintain those currently receiving day care and $t 15,000 for VIEW clients and those on <br />a waiting list; enrollment in the Children's Medical Insurance Program, started in 1998, <br />has been slow duc primarily to a lack of sufficiem publicity to inform many families; and <br />there is a lack of funding for education and training for VIEW clients. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano asked if Council wilt be receiving a request for supplemental <br />appropriations, and Mr. O'Connell said that staff is looking at shifting funds, but if that <br />does not work then a supplemental appropriation wilt be necessary. Mr. O'Connelt said a <br />supplemental appropriation of~00,000 w~l be needed for the Comprehensive Services <br />Act. <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert A. Cox, Ill, Director of the Department of Social Services, said the <br />state is looking at solutions to the day care problem and localities may receive some help <br />from them this year, though the possibility of help in future years is unknown. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano said that Council has supported additional funds for day care, bm <br />questioned at what point the "pot runs dry." Mr. Toscano expressed concern that the <br />requcsts for supplemental appropriation are made in the middle of the year and off the <br />budget cycle. <br /> <br />Mr. Robert Cox noted that the state failed to. meet its portion of the match. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati recommended that day care funding be included in theCity's <br />legislative package. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said that consistency of staff is important arm asked what is being <br />done to address the high staff turnover. <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert Cox said that salary levels and difficulties of the job are clearly issues <br />in the turnover rate, and said they are wor ~king on workload issues. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards asked why foster c~are rates are accelerating, and Mr. Robert Cox <br />said that social trends appear to be contributing. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said that education and training of VIEW clients is important, and asked <br />if Mr. Robert Cox thinks the General Assembly witl address this in the upcoming session. <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert Cox said the state administration bats made it clear that they are not <br />willing to accept any weakening ofwelfare reform and he has not heard that this will be <br />addresse& <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Cox, Mr. Robert COx said that most of the <br />44% who left jobs are probably still working in other jobs, though he stressed that job <br />retention is a big issue. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards asked why the $70 million surplus in TANF funds cannot-be <br />redirected, and Mr. Robert COx said that some of the funds have been used for child care, <br />but it is not clear whether more can be used because of federal restrictions. <br /> <br />REPORT: HOUSING STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION <br /> <br /> Mr. Satyendra Huja, Director of Strategic Plannin' g, said that there are 17,200 <br />dwelling units inthe City, 38.2%of which are owner occupied. There are 460 acres of <br />vacant land in the City, though most are challenging for building. Mr. Huja reviewed the <br />housing strategies and recormmended implementation. Mr. Huja said the imptememation <br />process will not be easy and wilt involve staff and the community working together. Mr. <br /> <br /> <br />