Author: Whipple, Julie (DFA)

2023
Annual
Report

2023 Commissioner’s Advisory Council

Maureen Abbott,
Executive Director
Tioga Opportunities, Inc.
Patrick Aquilio,
Tioga Outreach Director
Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga
Megan Ballard
Executive Coordinator
Glove House
Jill Bennedum, Executive
Director of Special Education
Owego-Apalachin Central Schools
Fran Bialy, Executive Director
A New Hope Center
Lisa Weston-Bialy
Workforce Educator
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Timothy Calice, Superintendent
Newark Valley Schools
Barbara Case, Superintendent
Spencer VanEtten Schools
Chad Eldred
Director of Programs & Operations
Southern Tier Independence Center
Eric Kimble, Program Manager
Glove House
Dr. Eric Knolles, Superintendent
Waverly Central Schools
John McNulty
Public Policy Specialist
Southern Tier Independence Center
Sue Medina
Deputy Public Health Director
Tioga County Health Department
Lori Morgan,
Community Services Director
Tioga County Mental Hygiene
Galen Morehead
Outreach Services Coordinator
Tioga County Rural Ministry
Sister Mary O’Brien
Executive Director
Tioga County Rural Ministry
Josh Roe, Superintendent
Tioga Central Schools
Susan Ruff, Advocacy Director
Southern Tier Independence Center
Todd Schaffer,
Executive Principal
Newark Valley Schools
Renee Spear, Executive Director
Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga

...from the Commissioner...

The year 2023 continued to be a rebuilding year for the Department following the significant staffing turnover experienced during COVID and the subsequent years. The word resilience applies to everyone who has stayed with the Department and has worked diligently to move us forward. I and the Administrative Team truly appreciate that while you all were working harder and working more hours, you continued to strive to meet our core mission of delivering services in an “empathetic, timely and customer focused manner”. As I write this in 2024, we have made much progress. I am very confident that we will build a new and stronger team, with our long-serving and talented staff working alongside our many new employees who are energized, eager to learn and ready to serve the residents of Tioga County.
Thank you to our many community partners who work by our side to provide services to our mutual consumers. Thank you to the Tioga County Legislature for your support in navigating these challenging times. And thank you to the Administrative Team and all Staff for all you do each and every day.

Shawn L. Yetter,
Commissioner

Mission
The Social Services department works to promote self-sufficiency and protect citizens by providing financial and social services to eligible Tioga County residents through program development, application of the law and encouragement of responsibility in an empathetic, timely and customer focused manner.

Values
Responsibility: Accepting personal and professional accountability for the delivery of dependable,
reliable services.
Integrity & Ethics: Ensuring optimal standards of service with honesty, trust and dedication.
Equality: Promoting fairness and impartiality among all
Respect & Compassion: Expressing consideration and empathy toward others.
Excellence: Encouraging and motivating the best in others and ourselves.

Vision
To be the most respected Department of Social Services, having a culture which values
responsibility, efficiency, teamwork, compassion, excellence and universal respect.

Administrative and Supervisory Staff
ADMINISTRATION
Shawn L. Yetter, Commissioner
Elizabeth Myers, Deputy Commissioner
Mickelle Andrews, Director of Administrative Services
Julie Whipple, Director of Employment & Transitional Supports
Administrative Secretaries: Brenda Holt, Gail Perdue, Lisa Williams
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION
Jade Relyea, Accounting Supervisor
Andrea Rossi, Principal Social Welfare Examiner
EMPLOYMENT & TRANSITIONAL SUPPORTS DIVISION
Debra Goodspeed, Principal Social Welfare Examiner
Tara Hauptfleisch, Principal Social Welfare Examiner
Kelly Kelley, Principal Social Welfare Examiner
Samantha Webster, Child Support Enforcement Coordinator
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
Mari Townsend, Second Assistant County Attorney
John Van Wert, First Assistant County Attorney
SERVICES DIVISION
Sarah Moore, Grade A Supervisor
Donna Corbin, Foster Care/Adoption/Home Finding /Preventive Supervisor
Sarah Tiffany, Foster Care/Adoption/Preventive/Raise the Lower Age/PINS Diversion
Supervisor
Kimberly Bailey Poreda, Training Supervisor
Joylynn MacNaughton, Adult Services Supervisor
Jennifer Green, Child Protective Services Supervisor
Cassandra Moore, Child Protective Services Supervisor
Tyna Eldred, Child Advocacy Center/Safe Harbour Coordinator
TIOGA EMPLOYMENT CENTER
Jackie Burdick, Manager

William Standinger—Chair, Health &
Human Services Committee
*Jake Brown
Ron Ciotoli
Keith Flesher
*Tracy Monell
*Dennis M. Mullen
Barbara Roberts
Dale N. Weston
*Health & Human Services Committee

Martha C. Sauerbrey
Legislative Chair

2023

Tioga County legislature

The policy-making and appropriating body of County Government, with the power to levy taxes, adopt the County budget, make appropriations, and adopt local laws.

The Accounting Department is responsible for:
Monitoring and processing all cash receipts and disburse- ments of the department.
Accurate recording and reporting of all agency expenditures and revenues to the County Treasurer’s Office. This in- cludes all program and administrative expenditures.
Preparing and submitting monthly and quarterly claims in a timely manner to state agencies to receive maximum
reimbursements of federal and state aid.
Other functions include bank reconciliations, financial management case reconciliations, budget preparations, audits, and maintaining the agencies Rep-payee accounts
Issuing temporary benefit cards

The Systems Department is responsible for:
Maintaining and providing user support for both hardware and software
Managing a variety of hardware from Apple iPad devices to computers
Maintaining security access to a variety of state-owned software such as the Welfare
Management System, I/EDR (Imaging and Enterprise Document Repository),
MyWorkspace, Connections and other applications
Providing agency-wide services such as data entry, processing state reports – both electronic and printed, and creating custom databases for departments across the agency
Providing staff with remote access as needed
Metering mail for almost all County departments including DSS, Health Department, Mental Health, Sheriff’s Office, Treasurer’s Office, DMV, etc.—over $120K pieces of mail in 2023!

Systems

The Fraud and Front-End Detection Systems (FEDS) Unit’s primary function is to ensure that the expenditure of public funds is only for those who are legally entitled to receive these benefits. Through a variety of mandated programs and local initiatives, DSS investigators save taxpayer dollars by uncovering fraud of unreported assets, income, household composition, dual assistance, fraudulent vendor billing, misuse of funds, and the filing of false applications. Referrals to the fraud unit can be generated from within the agency or from external sources.

Employment
And
Transitional Supports

Home Energy Assistance Program
(HEAP)

SNAP/Medicaid Unit
Using the “Task-Based” Process Management Model, this Unit processed applications,
recertifications and undercare maintenance for a total of 12,629 completed tasks in 2023.
The average monthly number of individuals receiving SNAP (Food Stamps) benefits in 2023 was 4,647 (approximately 1,642 of these were children).
The monthly average of the total number of Tioga County individuals on Medicaid in 2023 was 14,522. 3,100 of these cases continued to be managed by FSMA staff, the remainder are on the State Exchange. Average number of SSI individuals was 1,135 (190 were children).
The average number of Chronic Care (nursing home, assisted living and waiver programs)
Medicaid cases was 230 per month for 2023.
Received 19,616 incoming phone calls and conducted 447 face-to-face interviews
Successes:
Maintained a high level of customer service despite staffing challenges, meaning citizens of
Tioga County were provided with housing, food, health insurance, and heat
Child Support Enforcement Unit (CSEU)
Total Collections: $5,127,141 in 2023.
Average monthly caseload: 1,877
Reimbursements to DSS in 2023 totaled $411,261
Total Petitions filed in 2023: 527
Youth Bureau
Allocations of $34,950 were distributed to 11 Community Organizations and Municipal Recreational Programs for a prorated program year of 1/1—9/30/2023.
Youth Sports & Education Opportunity funds of $15,220 were distributed to one organization.

Tioga Career Center
Provides a variety of seamless customer-driven employment services to both businesses and individual job seekers in the greater Tioga County area.
One-stop for many employment-related services:
Unemployment Assistance and mandated appointments
BOCES GED class
Resumes, job search assistance, on-line application
Computer skills, tutoring
Funding opportunities for classroom and on-the-job- training opportunities
Services for the community provided by Workforce staff, Literacy Volunteers, GST BOCES, WIOA Youth Program – Cornell Cooperative Extension Tioga, Access-VR, and other Tioga County agencies.
Collaborating with Tioga County School Districts with transitional and supportive services for students
Services for employers:
Job postings, hiring events, on-the-job training opportunities
Job Fairs with free advertising on radio, newspaper, and social media
Unemployment Services
ID.Me identity verification
Developed Department of Labor Unemployment contacts to more readily resolve issues
Assisted and resolved many customers with unemployment benefit barriers

Children and Adult Services
Child Protective/Preventive Services
1157 hotline reports received: 847 investigative, 308 Family Assessment Response (FAR)
154 alleging drug use
138 alleging domestic violence
283 investigations determined: 65 indicated and closed, 17 indicated and opened for preventive services
34 families served, involving 64 children
19 families discharged from Preventive Services
32 Neglect petitions filed on behalf of 44 children
1 Abuse petition filed on behalf of 1 child
Foster Care/Adoption/Home Finding
22 Foster Care Admissions: 20 abuse/neglect, 2 Juvenile Delinquents
17 Foster Care Discharges: 9 reunited with parent, 1 was placed in Kinship Guardianship and 7 children were adopted
3 Tioga County youth were in detention for a total of 73 days
3 children freed for adoption
2 children placed in a pre-adoptive home with an early 2024 adoption planned
Kinship Foster Home Care placements were at 35.5% of all placements at the end of 2023. This is a 5% increase since 2022.

Adult Protective Services
Received 348 Adult Services referrals
Received 179 Adult Protective referrals
Conducted 93 Adult Protective investigations
4 active Guardianship cases
Representative Payee for 44 individuals
PINS Diversion
Received 82 phone inquiries and completed 68 intakes, resulting in 22 cases being opened for DSS Diversion Services. The remaining cases were informational or referred out for community based services.
Successes:
7 Adoption finalizations

Raise the Lower Age
Received seven referrals
Two declined the Differential Response process
Two did not qualify due to age/residency
Three were provided the Differential Response
Two were opened for Preventive Services
One was referred for community-based services
CAC and Safe Harbor
The CAC serviced 69 children and their families.
51 youth served by the Safe Harbor program
January is recognized as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, per legislative proclamation.

As the Coordinator of Child Support Enforcement, Anita is responsible for the administration of the Child and Medical Support establishment and enforcement, improving the lives of children and families in Tioga County.
Anita is an excellent role model to her staff. She keeps updated with all aspects of Child Support and shares new information with her staff in a timely manner to assure accuracy and compliance with directives. Within their small office, Anita fosters both independence and cooperation, including cross-training to aid in their team approach to ensure that customers are provided with services in an efficient manner.
Anita always supports her staff to be the best they can be, assigns responsibilities fairly and makes adjustments as needed. She provides a supportive environment, where staff feels valued and encouraged.
In addition to her role at Support Collection, Anita is on the Institute for Advancement committee, thus participating in the development of the future leaders of Tioga County.
Anita represents the DSS Core Values of responsibility, integrity, equality, respect, compassion, and excellence. She is a great asset to the Tioga County Department of Social Services.

Brandy started working at Tioga County DSS in October 2019 as an Office Specialist I. Brandy was then promoted to Social Welfare Examiner in March 2021 and most recently promoted in June 2023 to Social Services Employment Specialist. Brandy maintains a good attitude despite staffing challenges and caseloads. We can always count on her to do a good job and ensure a job is very well done. Brandy is organized and is always on top of what needs to be done. Brandy always strives for perfection with her work.
Brandy is also an asset when it comes to teamwork within the unit. She always volunteers to train and assist where needed. She is a pleasure o work with and maintains professionalism in her day-to-day caseload, as well as with her co-workers.

Brandy Lunn, Employee of
Second Quarter 2023

Kim started working at Tioga County DSS in October of 2020 as a Caseworker and was moved to Homefinding Kim was promoted to a Sr. Caseworker position on May 23, 2022, and was again promoted in October of this year (2023) to a Grade B Supervisor. Kim maintains a good attitude despite staffing challenges and caseloads. We can always count on her to do a good job and ensure child safety. Kim is organized and is always on top of deadlines and program improvements.
Kim is a team player, she is always willing to make the time to help other staff on the floor, as well as the children and families we serve. Kim always takes extra on call, which to her credit have been some of the worst on call nights imaginable. Despite this Kim is always able to laugh off those nights of lack of sleep and to stay on task and focused the next day. Kim has had many new things to learn in the past year. As Homefinder all the systems and processes have been updated by the state. There is a new way to file for KinGap, NTDC a new preservice training for foster parents, and a different part for KIN and Fictive Kin. Kim is the “Services Mom” - she takes care of everyone here on the unit and has developed very personal relationships with everyone. She has built trusting relationships with foster parents and keeps track of recertification dates and timelines.
As the Homefinder Kim often has CRAZY hours. She makes herself available to foster parents and perspective foster parents when it works for them. She is never in a rush to get out of their homes. She gives everyone the time they need to learn, feel supported and to build relationships.
Kim would be an asset to any team, but I am GLAD that she is on ours.
Kim is also an asset when it comes to training our new workers, she knows when to push and when to allow them the freedom to fly with or without her as a safety net . Kim is someone that they can trust and rely on. Kim is patient, kind and compassionate. She is driven to protect and support all parties involved in the child welfare system.

Kimberly Bailey Poreda
Employee of the Third
Quarter, 2023

Brenda Holt
Employee of the Fourth Quarter, 2023
Brenda began her career with the Department in October 1996 as a Typist in the Income Maintenance Division. She moved to the Services Division in June of 2005 where she was the typist for the Foster Care Unit for many years. On July 14, 2021, Brenda was selected to fill the position of Confidential Secretary to the Commissioner, the position she currently holds.
Brenda upholds the mission, vision, and values of the Department at all times. In her current position, she has become a go to person for internal information and questions, especially for new staff. She supports both the Commissioner and the Director of Services and must deal with all personnel changes, which has been no easy task as of late.
She continues to support the Services Division by being a resource for the supervisors, caseworkers, and office specialists with her extensive experience in the Foster Care Unit. Brenda also uploads all court documents into the electronic casefile system, Traverse, along with maintaining a comprehensive list of due dates for Legal work. Brenda has the pleasure of dealing with the Agency’s most challenging clients who call wishing to speak with the Commissioner or one of the Directors. She does this with the upmost professionalism and grace.

Samantha Webster,
Coordinator of Child Support
And
Jenni Horan,
Senior Social Welfare Examiner
Leadership Tioga Class of 2023
Class of 2023