Q&A
HASA staffing challenges and recent hiring efforts
0:31:31
ยท
5 min
This chapter covers HASA's recent efforts to address staffing challenges and meet required case ratios. John Rojas explains that HASA has hired 46 new caseworkers between July 2023 and December 2024, with plans to recruit an additional 64 caseworkers. The agency received an exemption from the hiring freeze and is working with DCAS on civil service exams and retention strategies.
- HASA hired 46 new caseworkers between July 2023 and December 2024
- There are plans to recruit an additional 64 caseworkers
- HASA received an exemption from the hiring freeze for caseworkers
- The agency is working with DCAS on civil service exams and retention strategies, including bonuses
Diana Ayala
0:31:31
Out there fighting for that for that funding.
0:31:34
And so it's important that the advocacy comes not only from the council, but right from but from the organization that has, you know, the, firsthand experience of, you know, these programs.
0:31:44
According to, to the DSS quarterly report on HASA, the administration has failed to meet the required case ratios every quarter since '21.
0:31:54
DSS shared in a letter to the New York City Council compliance team that a failure to meet the case ratios was due in part to the hiring difficulties.
0:32:00
Now I know you said that you've hired a 40 social workers so far.
0:32:07
How long how when have you started when were these 140 workers?
John Rojas
0:32:12
The 46 caseworkers.
0:32:13
Yes.
0:32:14
So the the 46 were hired between 07/01/2023 through 12/31/2024.
0:32:22
During COVID, we a lot of folks, retired.
0:32:27
It it it was time and also, not coincidentally and then rightfully so, when the last was, were, issued, a lot of staff took that opportunity also to retire.
0:32:40
One of the I think and miss Dudley could attest this, one of the successes of HASA is that many of our staff, once they start working at HASA, stay at HASA.
Jacqueline Dudley
0:32:48
Yeah.
John Rojas
0:32:48
They're long term workers.
0:32:49
They're dedicated to their field.
0:32:51
They're dedicated to their clients.
0:32:53
And many of them have worked in HASA since its inception, since the nineties.
0:32:56
So we have a lot of workers who have been on HASA for thirty plus years.
0:33:01
So, you know, we are seeing a lot of attrition because of that.
0:33:05
And then COVID happened, and I think that accelerated a little more than usual, retirements.
Diana Ayala
0:33:13
So we hired a 46 social workers.
0:33:15
How many social workers would you need to field to be, you know
John Rojas
0:33:19
We we are recruiting for an additional 64 caseworkers.
Diana Ayala
0:33:22
60 four?
0:33:23
Correct.
0:33:24
Are you recruiting in some of the schools maybe as well?
John Rojas
0:33:26
We we are in, we're we have tons about which that we'll be doing, provisionally.
0:33:33
I think one of the, real tools that we've, utilized is the fact that we received an exemption to the hiring freeze for caseworkers, which really gave us the opportunity to hire freely.
0:33:46
And during this time, DCAS didn't have an established list, so we were able to hire provisionally.
0:33:52
So those 46 caseworkers are hired.
0:33:54
Now they're we recently had a a civil service exam, and, I'm happy to report that I think it was be at between 98 to ninety nine % of all our provisional staff took the exam and passed it.
Diana Ayala
0:34:05
Oh, that's wonderful.
John Rojas
0:34:06
Yeah.
0:34:06
So we'll be able to retain them, when later this year, the the DCAS list.
0:34:10
So we're working closely with DCAS on on because that's important, because if they were provisional and they can't stay, it would be problematic for us.
0:34:18
So that coupled with the our our collaboration with DCAS for the retention bonus, I think, has really worked to really hire staff and and be able to retain staff.
0:34:28
Because if they stay, x number of months to get that retention bonus, and we also highlight, you know, upcoming colas such as in May, there'll be an additional cola for staff as well under DC thirty seven.
0:34:39
So I think we have a a good plan, and we'll be able to recruit.
0:34:43
And we anticipate a DCAS civil service list coming out probably, we, you know, in in the spring.
0:34:49
I'm I don't wanna quote for DCAS, but I think sometime in the early spring, so we'll be able to call civil service list to fill those remaining, lines that we have vacant.
Diana Ayala
0:35:00
And will filling those remaining lines, reduce the caseload ratio?
John Rojas
0:35:04
Absolutely.
0:35:05
Absolutely.
Diana Ayala
0:35:05
What is what would what would ideally be the average?
John Rojas
0:35:10
Well, I you know, so the the local law is 34 to one.
0:35:14
One thing I would add is that in addition to the caseworkers that we have, anyone who's in supportive housing also has a caseworker.
0:35:21
So we have about 5,500 units of contracted supportive housing, both congregate and scattered site.
0:35:27
In addition to HASA caseworkers, individuals living in supportive housing have an additional caseworker.
0:35:32
And those in those caseworkers that we just spoke about have a 20 to one caseload ratio.
0:35:37
So that affords our HASA clients living in supportive housing to access a HASA caseworker
Jacqueline Dudley
0:35:43
Mhmm.
0:35:43
In
John Rojas
0:35:43
addition to, the supportive housing caseworker.
0:35:47
And then, you know, you know, we we're not even including a lot of the case management services that are available in the community through doctor Braunstein's, area, in DOHMH, under Ryan White Part a, there is medical, care coordination, medical case management, which is a form of case management for individuals who really need, services to help them engage in medical care, and that's affiliated with hospitals.
0:36:14
And and doctor Bronstein could talk about it if necessary.
0:36:17
So those are services that are out there and available, and and there's substantial funding for that and spread across the city.
0:36:23
So there's a lot of services available to our clients, both community based through HASA and through supportive housing if they're enrolled in a supportive housing program.