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Q&A
Council Member Ayala questions shelter staffing and client accountability in pilot program
1:19:34
·
4 min
Council Member Diana I. Ayala raises concerns about understaffing in shelters participating in a pilot program and questions the approach to client accountability. Commissioner Molly Wasow Park and Administrator Jocelyn Carter respond, emphasizing provider accountability, contract monitoring, and the importance of adequate training for staff.
- The discussion covers the challenges of implementing the pilot program in understaffed shelters
- There's a focus on the need for proper training to distinguish between misconduct and mental health issues
- The agency representatives highlight ongoing efforts to ensure accountability and proper implementation of the program
Diana I. Ayala
1:19:34
So we've heard reports from many providers that many of the 19 shelters that are slated to be a part of this pilot are understaffed.
1:19:40
One of the shelters is budgeted six case managers and two housing specialists but currently has only one case manager and no housing specialist.
1:19:49
Why is the city targeting people residing in shelters when there are no adequate staff to assist them?
Molly Wasow Park
1:19:56
I think that really speaks to the provider accountability aspect of this and frankly the DHS accountability aspect of this.
1:20:05
If there are insufficient staff to engage with clients, then no client is going to be experiencing any kind of consequence here and our focus is going to be making sure that DHS is appropriately working with the shelter to make sure that they are adhering to their contract terms.
Jocelyn Carter
1:20:23
Thank you commissioner.
1:20:23
I was about to say the same thing, right.
1:20:25
We we expect that the 19 sites that are in this pilot will be able to actually do what we want them to do and if they don't have, you know, they're not ready to do that starting July, then we're not going to be discontinued.
1:20:38
We want to make sure that they're adequately resourced to move towards this.
1:20:42
So, there's work that's happening now with training and looking at what resources they have so we're adequately we're working with the providers right now to see if they're ready.
1:20:51
So, we're doing some upstream work for these facilities.
Diana I. Ayala
1:20:56
So, why not just create you know some steps to ensure that the providers are doing the work that they're contracted to do and encourage the clients to follow the treatment plans?
Molly Wasow Park
1:21:12
Frankly, that is the premise of the work that we do day in, day out.
1:21:18
We have contract terms.
1:21:20
We do contract monitoring.
1:21:22
Clients are expected to adhere to independent living plans.
1:21:27
That is the basic nature of the work that we do, and we continue to do it and we will continue to do it.
1:21:35
Understanding though that everybody, whether it is DHS staff, DHS as an agency, providers, clients, people have competing priorities and sometimes being told this is what we expect of you gets us a lot of the way there but not all of the way there.
1:21:55
So we are looking for ways that we are making sure that all of us are being held accountable to the standards that we want.
Diana I. Ayala
1:22:03
Understood, but I think the training is really key, right, because we want to make sure that we are hiring staff that is capable of you know destabilizing and bringing on you know controlling a situation.
1:22:17
And you know that's not always the case, right.
1:22:19
And so I worry when we are relying on others to determine what gross misconduct is, right.
1:22:27
Like that how do they define gross misconduct and as opposed to somebody I mean I'm not saying that people aren't difficult, right.
1:22:35
I mean it is what it is.
1:22:37
But if I work in a daycare center and I know that I may encounter a little biter, it doesn't mean that I'm going to be biting back, right?
1:22:44
And oftentimes because the staff is not adequately trained or educated in you know social services or you know mental health issues, they may not recognize what a mental breakdown looks like as opposed to somebody just being, you know, nasty.
1:23:05
Councilmember I agree with you absolutely.
1:23:07
The training piece of
Molly Wasow Park
1:23:08
it is critical and the fact that we have invested in DHS and DSS legal resources here means that there will be eyes on this every step of the way.
1:23:19
So if we think a provider is moving towards action that is not inconsistent with our standards, then there's any consequences for the client are stopped and we go back to the Provider Accountability Act.
Diana I. Ayala
1:23:34
Yeah, don't want this to become a punitive measure for individuals that have differences that type of setting.
1:23:40
Absolutely.
Jocelyn Carter
1:23:41
The last piece I would add is that we have a structured training program for this, right.
1:23:45
So, there is training that we have made sure that we have put together structured.
1:23:51
Even track who's doing it.
1:23:52
There is makeup sessions for those who have missed it.
1:23:55
You know health services, offices involved.
1:23:58
There's lots of work that's happening to train just to make sure that we're hitting those points that you're making.
Diana I. Ayala
1:24:03
Yeah, I believe you.
1:24:05
I just you know your agency is pretty big and it's really difficult to control you know every aspect of human behavior and that includes you know our staff as well.