By Sara StrongThe Rock County Board Tuesday added Collaborative duties to the list of things the local Extension Office will administer.Commissioner Ken Hoime said he didn’t believe the amount of time allotted for Collaborative was fair to the office workers.He said, "I’m not in favor of giving 25 percent time for the Collaborative. They’ve got a skeleton crew for Extension services already."The Rock County Extension Committee will review the office and how the extra duties are working throughout the first year of the new arrangement.Rock County Collaborative is an organization that brings together offices such as Extension, the Private Industry Council, corrections, schools, Family Services and Public Health to work together on issues dealing with children and families of Rock County.It sponsors programs such as the Healthy Families Initiative and the Child Guide at Luverne Elementary School.The Rock County Board of Commissioners last month voted to concentrate local money on the 4-H program, and will only fund that position, and accompanying office staff.The 4-H coordinator is funded at 60 percent time, with a total cost of $35,550 and what amount of time and cost for the office staff???Family Services activityRock County Family Services Director Randy Ehlers reported to the board that for the fourth year, Minnesota has been awarded Food Support enhanced funds. This means that Rock County will get a portion of a form of "reward" money for efficiently and accurately giving correct aid to food assistance applicants. Rock County will put its $5,841 toward making an 80-percent financial worker a full-time position.Ehlers also updated the Board of Commissioners on department activity throughout the past 10 years. The number of applicants in most programs has increased on the average.Total active cases in Family Services has been about 570 a month throughout 2003 so far (ranging from 566 to 589 for the low and high).In 1992, the monthly caseload was 346; in 1993 was 359; in 1994 was 403; in 1995 was 413; in 1996 was 403; in 1997 was 379; in 1998 was 364; in 1999 was 362; in 2000 was 379; in 2001 was 407 and in 2002 was 469.The programs included in these figures are cash assistance, food stamps, health care and Minnesota Care, emergency assistance and day care.
