The Employment and Human Services Department has requested to establish an executive management level Deputy Bureau Director classification to allow the department to add additional administrative, managerial positions to address the growth and changes to program services, State and Federal regulations and mandates, and keep abreast with changing trends facing social services programs and providers. The EHS Deputy Bureau Director will be assigned to one of the major divisions, and will report to the respective Bureau Director. Responsibilities will include operational management, supervision of management personnel, participation with the respective Bureau Director on strategic planning and program development matters, recommending policy changes on program services and the delivery of services matters.   
  
The new EHS Deputy Bureau Director-Exempt position will be assigned to the Children and Family Services Bureau, and will work with the CFS Director on administrative and management responsibilities for children protective services programs, and ensure that there are professional staff available to protect children. The EHS Deputy Bureau Director assigned to Children and Family Services Bureau will oversee and enforce policies to ensure the department is managing all risk assessment and child safety, and is in compliance with Title IV-B and IV-E program requirements. The EHS Deputy Bureau Director assigned to the Workforce Services Bureau will continue to provide managerial oversight for public assistance service delivery programs and recommend program policy to ensure state and federal mandates and policies are implemented and managed.Once the EHS Deputy Bureau Director-Exempt classification is established, the Deputy Director-Workforce Services will be re-classified to EHS Deputy Bureau Director-Exempt and the incumbent will continue to provide administrative/managerial assistance in the Workforce Services Bureau.

If this action is not approved, the Children & Family Services Bureau and the Workforce Service Bureau will not have the desired managerial staff structure to effectively implement and manage state and federal mandates and policies that pertain to the delivery of child welfare services and public assistance services.

The services provide by Children and Family Services and Workforce Services are essential to ensuring children’s and family’s health and safety, as well providing services to a vulnerable population of our community. In order to do so, the essential staff to perform these functions as well as oversee the staff is crucial. Not having necessary staff can result in children and families being placed at risk of child abuse and neglect, policies and practices not being implemented properly and children being placed in and out of home care due to lack of "reasonable services" available to families.