What the heck is a "gold standard" of care for children?

CSB plan to slash 51 jobs remains
Board says spending must be cut, declines vote on$4 million loan
Hagelberg, Kymberli, Akron Beacon Journal, Nov. 29, 2006, Metro pg A1.

Despite an offer of a $4 million loan, delivered in person by three Summit County Council members, the Children Services Board remains committed to plans to cut 51 jobs next year.At CSB's meeting Tuesday, board President Cindy S. Johnson called the layoffs and other budget cuts "part of a long-term strategy of responsible planning and fiscal efficiency."

Johnson said the agency must reduce spending to scale back tax-levy requests from an aging and overburdened tax base.

At least 40 workers would be laid off. Other positions would not be filled.

Saving jobs was the reason county council members gave for authorizing the loan earlier this week.

On Tuesday, council members Pete Crossland, D-Akron, Paula Prentice, D-Green and Louise Heydorn, R-Silver Lake, tried to convince the CSB members to take the loan and keep the employees.

Layoffs during the holidays would breed poor relations with union employees and would likely kill a future levy, Heydorn said. "Do everything you can to give voters a reason to say yes."

County council must approve placing CSB levies on the ballot.

After the meeting, Heydorn said the money could be available immediately. "They could have it tomorrow if they would ask, but they're going to say no."

Johnson said the board would continue to talk to council about plans for a possible levy try next year but declined to vote on the loan.

Agency Chief Operating Officer/Interim Executive Director Katerina Papas said plans for the layoffs, which would not occur until after the first of the year, remain in place.

"The board has approved the budget, and I have not heard of any changes," she said.

Papas supported Johnson's call for budget cuts, saying Summit was spending more for children services than similar Ohio counties.

She released documents showing that Summit outspent child welfare agencies in Lucas and Montgomery counties by $6 million to $10 million in 2005. Summit also employed about 100 more workers.

Papas argued that the new budget would save money while maintaining a "gold standard" of care for children.

Children Services officials have said no caseworkers will be laid off and more will be added.

Councilwoman Prentice questioned whether the quality of care would be maintained, noting Children Services officials have never specified which employees will lose their jobs.

"There is no data. No study," Prentice said. "They haven't even said which jobs will go, whether they'll cut direct care workers or 15 attorneys and public relations people."

Both Prentice and Heydorn are school administrators who have worked with Children Services for decades.

"In the schools, we had to learn to cut the fluff," Prentice said.

Board members M. Beth Curley and Ginakaye Maddox signaled their opposition to the layoffs by voting against a budget-related resolution required by the state.

Curley voiced concern that a new executive director, expected to be hired next year, might have different ideas about which jobs are expendable. "Will they agree with your decisions, or will they have a better plan?" Curley asked.

Robin Schenault, president of Communications Workers of America Local 4546, said agency officials might be using incomplete data in comparing Summit to Montgomery and Lucas counties.

"We know they have about the same population, but I would like to see whether those agencies have more or less referrals than we do," Schenault said. "Those counties might have more employees who care for children and fewer administrators."

A caseworker, who asked not to be named, protested plans to eliminate the kitchen, which caters outside events and serves far fewer children since the residential unit closed.

"What that means is that the people who make sure the children we take from dangerous situations at 4 a.m. will be fed from a vending machine -- if I remember to bring change," the caseworker said.

The caseworker also protested the possible layoff of case aides, who provide support to social workers, saying the elimination of case aides will mean caseworkers will be forced to juggle caring for children while they are talking to police about a child's abuse or neglect. "Those kids don't need the extra trauma and rejection."