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State to pass computer costs on to counties
BY EDWARD MUNGER JR. Gazette Reporter

   New York counties are facing an unexpected cost to upgrade computers for a child welfare system because of a state agency’s difficulties in getting the system operational.
   County social service commissioners are calling the state’s intention to pass the cost along to counties another unfunded mandate, and some say it violates current state statutes.
   Officials from the state Office of Children and Family Services, in a letter dated July 3, informed counties that the federal government did not approve the state’s plan for the Connections Project, a computer system that tracks family and children services cases.
   “This federal decision has resulted in a large, unanticipated funding shortfall that requires OCFS to immediately implement a revised spending plan,” the letter states.
   That new plan means counties themselves now face the cost of upgrading computers associated with the system.
   According to county social services commissioners, the cost for the computers is estimated at $25,300 in Montgomery County, about $25,000 in Schoharie County and $43,500 in Fulton County.
   Commissioners from Saratoga, Schenectady and Albany counties could not be reached this week.
   The mandate comes as a shock to county officials who say the state paid for all of this work since the program started more than 10 years ago.
   “OCFS is not just asking for a local share, they’re telling us ‘you’re going to pay the whole thing,’ ” Fulton County Social Services Commissioner Sheryda Cooper said.
   “It’s their computer system, and it’s not well-liked by those who use it. Now they’re telling you you’ve got to keep it updated,” Cooper said.
   The computer system is used to gather information related to family and children cases in which social service departments become involved.
   It includes records on children who suffered from child abuse and neglect, notes on family visits, the help offered, findings related to the case and other data, officials said.
   Counties don’t have a choice other than to use these computers, and the system itself has become increasingly unpopular over the past few years because of the technical difficulties experienced.
   “I’m not enamored with this system — that’s why I have a hard time swallowing this whole idea. Not only do I have to tolerate it, but I also have to support it,” Schoharie County Social Services Commissioner Paul Brady said.
   Brady said the system is not user-friendly.
   “It’s not particularly intuitive; it requires a great deal of data entry. The time that the staff are sitting in front of computers feeding it, basically information, is less time they have to actually be out in the fi eld with the families,” Brady said.
   Making the changes worse is the fact that the state notified commissioners that field support — the people who try to fix problems caseworkers report — is also being reduced.
   The federal Administration for Children & Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reclassified the state’s Connections program in October 2006, according to Tara J. Wall, public affairs director at the Administration for Children & Families.
   Wall said the system was deemed a “non-SACWIS” system, meaning it doesn’t conform to the federal government’s program to fund statewide automated child welfare information systems, according to ACF.
   Wall said the state’s system was reclassified because of the length of time it’s taking to finish developing the system and because of “the delayed submission of progress reports” and a new proposal by the state to re-engineer it altogether.
   State Office of Children and Family Services spokeswoman Sandra Brown said the office in 2005 started asking counties to take on a local share of the costs, and only some of them complied.
   The decision on making counties foot the cost, Brown said, is being reviewed by OCFS executive leadership.  

  
  
  

Read - Schenectady County taxs rise again.

Here is an excuse for GPS and nanotecnology for 'tracking humans'.....it will rear it's ugly head....just wait and see.....

If it's a mandated state program, and the state is mandating an upgrade, than let the state pay for it with our 'already paid' taxes. Don't ask for more!!!! Cut some of the rediculous spending or some rediculous government program!!! I have even a better idea. Get these welfare slugs of the welfare roll and put them to work to take some of the tax burden away for us working folks. Or how about this one. Privatize all of the public sector jobs!! Now that's a thought, huh?

But, we are willing to pay for it.....according to our cry for xstasy's law.......another paradox......same with sex offender laws, granny laws and the like.......where is our liberty?.....

"....I have come to bring them life abundant..."