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February 3, 2023                                                                                                                         Volume 2, Issue 2

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Medicaid Continuous Coverage Required by the COVID Public Health Emergency Ends 4/1/23

In January 2020, a provision in the Public Health Emergency (PHE) required that Medicaid coverage continue for individuals who no longer met eligibility for the program. Prior to this provision children and youth would have been no longer eligible for Medicaid through CD when: 

1) they exit CD custody/foster care;

2) age out of an AD or LG subsidy agreement, or

3) turn 26 years old – if they’re a former foster care youth who qualifies for extended coverage to age 26.

On December 29, 2022, legislation was signed by the federal government that removes the continuous Medicaid coverage mandate from the PHE, thus ending the mandate effective 4/1/23. Beginning on 4/1/23, FSD will resume annual renewals - a process Medicaid recipients getting coverage through FSD must complete each year to make sure they still qualify for Medicaid. 

What can you do? 

• For children on trial home visits or families with youth getting ready to age out of an AD/LG subsidy, please encourage parents to apply for Medicaid through FSD – if they don’t already have active coverage and need Medicaid once the child exits custody.
• If the child already has active coverage through FSD, or the family has an active SNAP case, etc, encourage the family to make sure their address is updated in their FSD/mydss portal, or by visiting the Report a Change page, or by calling 1-855-FSD-INFO (1-855-373-4636), or by visiting their local FSD Resource Center.  Families can call FSD at 1-855-373-4636 if they have questions about their FSD coverage status.
• AC, CA/N, FCS, and Subsidy staff are encouraged to discuss with families the impending termination of the Medication continuous coverage mandate effective 4/1/23, and encourage families to work with FSD if they need to verify current coverage, update address, or apply for coverage.
• If you have contact with former foster care youth who qualify for the extended Medicaid coverage until age 26 – and they exited prior to March 2020 – please ask them for a current address and enter it in the Health Care for Former Foster Care Youth screen under General Functions. 
  • For any eligible youth who exited since March 2020 with whom you have contact, please send their current address to CDMHNQuestions@dss.mo.gov.  They are not yet showing in the HCFFCY screen due to the temporary FACES system fixes but we will make manual updates once available.

For more information, please read the attached email. If you have questions, please contact Lori.L.Masek@dss.mo.gov, 573-592-1007.

Compression Relief

Effective February 1, 2023, Social Service Unit Supervisors (Children Service Supervisor), Program Specialists (Program Development Specialists), Senior Program Specialists (Senior Program Development Specialists), and Senior Social Services Specialists (Children's Service Specialists) will receive a pay increase of 5%. This will be reflected on the February 28, 2023, paycheck.

2023 Legislative Session  Season 2, Episode 2 In Season 2 Episode 2 of the We Are CD podcast, Darrell talks with Acting Director Knodell and Pat Luebbering about this year's legislative session, how its going, and the potential impact it could have on our overall mission as a division and department. If you'd like to watch future hearings live, you can find them on the Missouri House of Representatives website. Darrell's hearing mentioned in the podcast above can be viewed using this link. He was also recently featured in a radio interview about the Plan to Rebuild and Reform Children's Division.  We hope this episode is beneficial for all of our team members. As always, we thank you for the passion and dedication you all continue to display - your tireless work does not go unnoticed. Remember, you can now earn education credits for listening to the podcast through your ESS portal. To ensure you get credit enter the name and date of the podcast in the, "my development screen." LISTENING TIP: If you would like to listen to this podcast while traveling or working, just open this e-newsletter from your work email on your phone and click the link to listen!

Governor Parson's Recommendations for the FY2024 Budget

You should've received an email from the Director's Office last week summarizing Governor Parson's FY2024 Budget Recommendations. In case you missed it, here are some highlights below: 

• Governor Parson has continued his commitment to growing state employee wages to be more consistent with non-government employers. He has recommended an 8.7% increase for all employees, and an increase in shift differential pay to $2.00 per hour for team members working outside of the day shift in our DYS facilities. This was included as part of an early supplemental budget request and the Governor has requested swift approval with an implementation goal of March 1, 2023 (which, if passed, would be represented on paychecks issued March 31, 2023).
• In addition, health insurance premiums will be held flat for state team members for another year to help ensure that proposed increases are not offset by rising premiums.
• The Governor also placed the needs of our DSS team members who serve Missouri’s most vulnerable children and those who are responsible for resuming Medicaid annual renewals front and center. While reducing authorized personnel by 200 positions across all of state government, Governor Parson has recommended $22 million and 100 new caseworker positions in our Children’s Division. A recommendation is also included for $16.8 million for to contract for Medicaid annual renewal support resources to reduce the burden on DSS team members tasked with this effort.
• An additional $3.2 million investment in talent development is recommended to improve the quality and availability of employee skill development opportunities for our state workforce.
• Missouri’s state-owned or operated facilities have aged significantly since the last time repairs and investments were adequately funded. The Governor has recommended $234 million to be allocated to the state’s Facilities Maintenance and Repair Fund to help provide needed improvements, including potential facility updates and safety and security needs.

You can view the whole message at this link. If you missed the State of the State Address, a recording is available to watch here. 

How do you #PutYourPassionToWork?

How do you put your passion to work every day working for the Missouri Children's Division? We know there are many passionate individuals working for us in Children's Division and we want to hear from you. What keeps you coming back every day to serve Missouri's most vulnerable populations?  Send your response to the question, "How do you put your passion to work for Missouri Children's Division?" to Ashton.Kever@dss.mo.gov.   These testimonials will be used on social media and in the next CD newsletter.

Child and Family Services Onsite Review

The Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) onsite review is scheduled for July 24-28, 2023. State reviewers are needed to partner with a federal reviewer in the three selected Missouri sites - Kansas City, the 45th Circuit (Lincoln and Pike counties), and the 36th Circuit (Butler and Ripley counties). Mandatory training will be provided on July 11 and 12 in Columbia. If you interested in being considered, please contact JoDene Bogart, CFSR Coordinator at JoDene.Bogart@dss.mo.gov. 

Reviewer Requirements:

• Must be a Social Services Worker or higher (clerical workers and case aides are not eligible)
• Must have been employed with Children's Division for at least 18 months
• Need supervisory approval to participate

Permanency

The Call to Foster Podcast: "They're just like an extended part of our family." Season 1, Episode 1 Episode 1 is now available on Youtube.  Join Jessica Huckstep and Shasta Miller as they interview Norma Hahn about her experience as a foster parent. Hear first-hand about what it is like to be a foster parent and listen as Norma shares her experiences.  Do you have feedback on this episode? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Send feedback to ashton.kever@dss.mo.gov.

Foster Parent Tax Deduction

Beginning with the 2022 tax year, Missouri Revised Statute 143.1170 allows individuals a deduction for expenses directly related to providing care as a foster parent in the state of Missouri. Foster parents will begin receiving notification letters about the new tax deduction in the coming weeks. The notification letter advises foster parents of their potential eligibility, responsibilities when claiming the deduction, and to contact the Department of Revenue or their tax advisor for more information. You can learn more about the tax deduction at FAQs - Foster Parent Tax Deduction (mo.gov).

Recruitment

Social Work Advisory Group

The Social Work Advisory Group  (SWAG) meets on a regular basis to support best practice by utilizing the values, skills, and knowledge of social workers within the Children’s Division. In March, we will be initiating new members and saying goodbye to those who have served their two year term. Do you have your BSW or MSW and are interested in being a part of SWAG? Contact Christine Steele at Christine.E.Steele@dss.mo.gov.

Upcoming Recruitment Events

Do you know someone who would be a great fit for Children's Division? Send them to one of these recruitment events to learn about the job, talk with CD employees in their region, and - at some events - even apply and interview on-the-spot! Another option is to send them to our job openings page. 

Keep an eye on DSS social media for more information and to share these events with people you know. Check the DSS Event Calendar and the FSD Job Opportunity Calendar for more information. 

We are trying to build our presence at local universities and community events – please let us know of upcoming/future events in your area that you think would be a great way for us to connect with the community and build our brand! Share any ideas for recruitment with Christine Steele at Christine.e.steele@dss.mo.gov.

*Dates and locations are subject to change. Contact Christine.Steele@dss.mo.gov if you have any questions. 

CCU and You

CCU Shining Star Brendan Beavers CCU would like to congratulate this month’s Shining Star Brendan Beavers. Brendan has been with CD for a little over a year and has been a frequent user of CCU from the start. Over the last 6 months, Brendan has averaged over 32 reports per month and still has been able to close 49.7% of those cases within 14 days. Brendan said that CCU has always been available to him and that helps him keep his caseload within manageable numbers. Brendan thinks that the new guidelines allowing workers to call in the first 72 hours without any notes entered as long as all children have been seen, is especially helpful. Brendan has a degree in Anthropology and a background in professional photography. Brendan enjoys cycling in his spare time.   Thank you to all of the frontline staff and helpers out there who are doing the work to make sure that Missouri children are safe. Keep calling CCU on all of your safe cases! CCU would like to clarify that extended hours will continue Monday-Friday 5pm-7pm and Saturdays 1pm-4pm through June 2023. If you have any questions, please feel free to email DSS.CD.CCUSUP@dss.mo.gov

Legal Aspects

Upcoming Training Schedule

The following is the Legal Aspects schedule and other relevant trainings for the rest of the year. To access the trainings, click on the course ID or links listed below. 

NOTE: If you are a supervisor, please take a moment to register for one of the supervisor courses below. They are required to be taken by new supervisors within 6 months of employment. Openings in both are currently available! 

If you have trouble enrolling in a legal aspects course, please contact CD.latrainingteam@dss.mo.gov. For trouble enrolling in other courses please contact, Christina.L.Persall@dss.mo.gov.

New Course Available

Legal Aspects Fair Hearing Preparation is now active and can be found in the ELC. You can take this on demand course by clicking the button below. 

Legal Tip of the Month

Be curious. A famous attorney (and our 16^th President) once said "When I have a particular case in hand, I have that motive and feel an interest in the case, feel an interest in ferreting out the questions to the bottom, love to dig up the question by the roots and hold it up and dry it before the fires of the mind." Recollected Words of Abraham Lincoln compiled and edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher and Virginia Fehrenbacher (Stanford, Stanford University Press, 1996), p. 242.

Whatever case you are dealing with, be it an investigation, FCS, or alternative care case; be curious and have an open mind. We must be the ones to ask and keep asking questions so that we know we are advocating for the best interest of the children and families we serve.

Other Training Opportunities

We Want to Hear From You!

If you have something you would like to share in the next newsletter issue, please email Ashton Kever at ashton.kever@dss.mo.gov. 

Our Mission: Empower Missourians to live safe, healthy, and productive lives.

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