It took the community several years of pushing, pleading and politics before it succeeded in convincing the state to restore the Office of Children’s Services caseworker position in town. The job had been eliminated more than a dozen years earlier before it was restored in the 2021-2022 state budget.
The caseworker has been on the job since February 2022. But now the borough, which agreed to cover half of the expense of the reopened office, is questioning whether the town is getting its money’s worth in the cost-sharing deal with the state.
It’s important that the borough and state find a compromise to ensure that the community receives the services it pays for — and which it needs. Canceling the deal and losing the caseworker is not a good option for Wrangell’s youth.
The school district had been particularly vocal about the necessity for an in-town caseworker to help students needing emotional counseling and assistance. Before the office reopened, school officials and families had to call Petersburg or the state’s 1-800 number to request help for troubled students.
A caseworker’s job includes investigating reports of child abuse or neglect, helping families with parenting issues, and connecting children and families with service providers.
Borough officials and some assembly members point out that while Wrangell covers half the cost of the position, and provides free rent, the community is not getting half of the caseworker’s time. The staffer is serving other small communities in Southeast that lack their own caseworker, which makes sense. Sharing is a smart way to provide services so that more communities can benefit.
After several requests from Wrangell, the Legislature appropriated 50% funding for the Wrangell position in 2020, but the governor vetoed the money. With a renewed push by borough and school district officials in 2021, Wrangell’s legislator in the state House, Rep. Dan Ortiz, succeeded in adding the caseworker to the budget a second time. Given a second chance, the governor did not veto the money.
Though the Office of Children’s Services in past years has staffed a position in other communities with shared funding, Wrangell is the only such case currently.
Maybe that means state officials are out of practice in how to manage a cost-sharing position. It seems pretty basic: If Wrangell is paying half the cost, it should get half the staffer’s time and attention.
Police Chief Tom Radke said it well in addressing the issue during assembly budget discussions earlier this month: “That position is needed, it should be funded … but Wrangell shouldn’t pay half.”
— Wrangell Sentinel
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