Was over Great Grandpa's yesterday In the PD

[Joe Cocker]

Sonoma County adding 54 social services jobs

An influx of overdue and unexpected state cash means Sonoma County government will soon be adding about 54 jobs in various welfare and aid programs. Published November 17, 2012 www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121117/ARTICLES/121119561

Happy days are here again, possible drugs pushers for hire, the one pill your mother gives you doesn't do anything at all.

[ferrous]

OH HAPPY DAYS!

[Joe Cocker]

Blame Bush? Since 2006, the department has seen a 157 percent jump in food stamp applications and 30 percent increase in Medi-Cal recipients. Economic assistance caseloads overall have grown by 87 percent, outstripping the increase in state and federal funding by 54 percentage points, according to the county.

Over the past five years, cases in the county's Adult and Aging division, which oversees adult welfare and elder abuse, have grown by 26 percent, outstripping state and federal funding growth by 18 percentage points.

The new jobs include social worker, aid-eligibility, public guardian, employment counseling and clerical posts. All are within the county's Human Services Department, the largest in county government, with a workforce of about 680 employees and a budget of $242 million, 88 percent of it from state and federal sources.

The boost in staffing will support several new or expanded department efforts focused on financial abuse of seniors, outreach to at-risk families and food stamp recipients and employment for foster youth.