DEPARTMENT BUDGET SUMMARY

MISSION STATEMENT: To maintain a healthy, stable, and safe community by focusing on prevention and promoting independence and self-sufficiency.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) monitors and assesses human needs in the County, facilitates services by the private sector, and provides services directly when appropriate. DHS serves as a problem identifier and catalyst for community action, working toward greater community collaboration.

FY 2005 PRIORITIES: The FY 2005 priorities of the Department of Human Services are:

• To implement service enhancements and technology improvements funded by Local Public Assistance Cost Allocation Plan (LPACAP) funds, including a major supportive housing effort.

• To complete renovation projects at Fenwick Center, George Mason Center, and the Arlington Assisted Living Residence (formerly known as Oak Springs).

• To fund reasonable increases in costs associated with contractual obligations and staffing to ensure effective delivery of approved services.

• To maintain service delivery by the nonprofit human services agencies serving Arlington County.

• To maintain critical services that may be negatively impacted by state or federal budget cuts.

PRINCIPAL PROGRAMS: The programs of the Department of Human Services are organized into the following organizational units, all of which are linked with state agencies that provide oversight, funding, and various mandates:

• Economic Independence Division (EID)

• Child and Family Services Division (CFSD)

• Public Health Division (PHD)

• Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD)

• Behavioral Healthcare Division (BHD)

• Director's Office / Planning and Administration (DOPA)

In addition to the General Fund programs, DHS also operates the federal Section 8 Housing Program found in the Enterprise, Special Revenue and Internal Service Funds section (Section N) of the budget. This is a $14.0 million program with 17.4 FTEs.

A new effort started in FY 2004 and continued in FY 2005 is supportive housing for persons with mental and/or physical disabilities, funded by LPACAP funds. The efforts are being coordinated through the Director's Office and involve staff in all of the service divisions. The assisted living facility formerly known as Oaks Springs was acquired at the end of FY 2003 and will be renovated during FY 2004 and FY 2005. A private operator will be secured for an assisted living residence for older persons with needs related to mental health/mental retardation; additional ongoing funding is included in FY 2005 to ensure adequate operating funds. A supportive housing plan to be started in FY 2004 will be completed in FY 2005. Other supportive housing projects will be implemented during FY 2005; additional one-time funding is included in FY 2005 to supplement the Supportive Housing Fund.

A number of facility improvement projects funded by LPACAP will be completed in FY 2005. The Fenwick Center, previously occupied by a number of DHS programs that relocated to the Warren G. Stambaugh Human Services Center in Clarendon, will house public health programs now at 1800 Edison Street. The George Mason Center at 1725 George Mason Drive will be renovated to house the Arlington Community Action Program (ACAP) and Head Start programs now at Reed School, and Head Start classes now in rented space in Ballston.

SIGNIFICANT BUDGET CHANGES: The FY 2005 proposed expenditure budget for the Department of Human Services is $88,079,714, a three percent increase over the FY 2004 adopted budget. Net tax support is proposed to increase by $820,878, a two percent increase over FY 2004.

Both the FY 2004 and FY 2005 budgets reflect significant LPACAP funding, both one-time funding and ongoing annual funding, that the County has received. Annual reimbursement levels have grown each year, with a higher than anticipated increase of 16% between FY 2002 and FY 2003 (the most recent year for which reimbursement was requested). FY 2005 LPACAP funding is projected to increase by 3% over estimated FY 2004 funding. In addition, funds set aside in FY 2003 to cover possible state budget cuts were not completely used for that purpose, leaving additional one-time funding available for allocation. The higher annual funding levels and surplus one-time funding has allowed increases in FY 2005 funding over base budget needs.

The FY 2005 proposed staffing level is 695.7 FTEs, a net decrease of 18.0 FTEs from the FY 2004 adopted budget. The following summarizes the FTE changes:

The proposed expenditure budget includes the following significant changes:

• LPACAP funds were used to fund the following expenditure increases above base:
• $250,000 of ongoing funds and $350,000 of one-time funds to supplement supportive housing efforts;
• $27,000 of ongoing funds to supplement the Emergency Needs Fund;
• $251,000 and 4.7 FTEs to restore cuts in grants to the Arlington Employment Center, in order to maintain critical employment services for Arlington residents;
• A reserve fund of $381,000 ($155,000 of ongoing funds and $226,000 of one-time funds) to cover possible FY 2005 State cuts; if these funds are not needed to cover cuts, they would be available to assist nonprofit human service organizations;
• $125,000 of ongoing funds and 1.0 FTE to comply with state accounting and reporting requirements and to maximize LPACAP reimbursements;
• $101,500 of ongoing funds, $225,000 of one-time funds and 1.0 FTE for technology infrastructure improvements;
• $102,000 of ongoing funds, $99,000 of one-time funds and 1.0 FTE for technology application enhancements.

• Decreased expenditures ($1,879,105 and 14.5 FTEs) in the Arlington Employment Center due to grant reductions; $251,000 and 4.7 FTEs were restored with LPACAP funding.

• Additional costs for rent at 3033 Wilson Boulevard ($111,322) and liability insurance for staff physicians ($12,475).

• Increased funding to nonprofit and/or contractual agencies to meet reasonable salary increases and operating costs ($102,975).

• Increased funding for vocational and transportation services for a net of nine new school graduates with mental retardation/developmental disabilities and associated case management services ($275,874 and 0.4 FTE).

• Increased contract costs for mental retardation vocational/transportation, substance abuse residential, and meal service contracts ($82,591) against $31,818 savings due to Medicaid reimbursement of vendor.

• Increase in foster care and adoption expenditures of $1,063,502, wholly offset by revenue.

• Increase for nine new Title V slots (older low-income workers) including living wage ($111,060), offset partially by revenue increase ($58,059).

• Included continued funding for three grants approved as supplemental appropriations in FY 2004 ($439,922).

Revenues in FY 2005 represent approximately 44% of the Department's budget. Projections do not include supplemental state allocations that are routinely received, but at unpredictable levels. Other changes represent a wide variety of routine fluctuations in multiple sources of state and federal funding. Specific changes include the following:

• Increase of $1,911,500 ($1,011,500 in ongoing funding and $900,000 in one-time funding) in LPACAP funding, due to higher-than-expected reimbursement levels and unused state budget cut contingency funds.

• Decrease of $1,879,105 million of federal and state grants to Arlington Employment Center due to elimination of short-term grants and cumulative effect of funding erosion since FY 2002.

• Decrease of $105,705 due to end of three public health grants.

• Reduction in revenue for West Nile Virus Project ($135,522) originally projected from Alexandria for larvaciding services, partially offset by $87,090 reduction in expenditures.

• Increase from $4.50 to $4.75 per trip for the transportation fee for the Madison Adult Day Health Program.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

• Immunization rate from Kindergarten Retrospective Study.

• Some clients do not complete treatment for TB because they leave Arlington with no forwarding address or refuse treatment. Completion of treatment is recommended but not required if they do not present an imminent health threat to the community.

• In accordance with Virginia Department of Social Services policy, adults deemed competent may choose to reject the service plan developed for them.

• There are no state or federal standards to measure the level of success in the prevention of child abuse and neglect incidents or recidivism. A 100 percent achievement would be ideal; however, considering the complexity of these cases, the goal shown is realistic.

• See Community Report Card on the Status of Children, Youth and Families, prepared by the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families, November 2003, for description of 80 indicators that together provide a statistical portrait of Arlington's youth.

Proposed Budget Contents | Section G Contents