Human Services

Tasha Thode - Director, Child & Adult Protection (extension 307)

Kya Smith - Accounting/Child Care Program (extension 308)

Lindsay Rochlitz - Child & Adult Protection (extension 313)

Amber Contreras - Assistance Programs (extension 303)

Daisy Gusman - Assistance Programs (extension 304)

Shyanne Evans - Child Support (extension 314)

This institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex and in some cases religion or political beliefs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800)-877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027), found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

For any other information dealing with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) issues, persons should either contact the USDA SNAP Hotline Number at (800)-221-5689, which is also in Spanish or call the State Information/Hotline Numbers (click the link for a listing of hotline numbers by State); found online at: SNAP Hotline.

To file a complaint of discrimination regarding a program receiving Federal financial assistance through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), write: HHS Director, Office for Civil Rights, Room 515-F, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201 or call (202) 619-0403 (voice) or (800) 537-7697 (TTY).

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

One of the most widely known of all programs is TANF or Temporary Aid to Needy Families, formerly known as AFDC.  With the passage of Welfare Reform, or the Personal Work and Responsibilities Opportunity Reform Act in 1996, all states were required to implement a plan that would reduce reliance on government through stable employment and other methods of self-sufficiency.  Colorado’s State Plan is called Colorado Works.  Income criteria must be met in order to be eligible for Colorado Works.  Individuals and families eligible for financial benefits under the Colorado Works program must be working or in a work-related activity during the first 24 months of receiving benefits or their entire case closes.  Every adult over the age of 18 and receiving benefits as a caretaker has a lifetime maximum of 60 cumulative months of eligibility.  Every parent or caretaker relative who receives assistance under Colorado Works is required to engage in an Individual Responsibility Contract, or IRC.  There are no exemptions.  All expenses accrued under the Colorado Works program are reimbursed at 80%.

When a family is approved for Colorado Works, the family is referred for Child Support Services, or CSS.  The CSS unit locates the non-custodial parent, establishes orders for paternity and/or child support, and enforces payment of the order.  If the family has received financial assistance in any county in the State of Colorado, the order (when established) will include a judgment for part or all of the statewide public assistance expended.  When the non-custodial parent pays the judgment, the State of Colorado retains the money.  This reduces the amount of money spent by the State and by taxpayers for the TANF assistance.  When a non-custodial parent pays their child support obligation, families can obtain and/or maintain self-sufficiency.  In 2013, the State of Colorado collected $335,510,693.82 in child support.  The Sedgwick County CSS unit collected $223,434.59 in 2013 and met all performance goals established by the State Department.  This program can provide services to anyone, regardless of income, who pays a one-time $20.00 fee.

Apply online for child support services! The Colorado Child Support Services (CSS) Program has launched a streamlined application that's available 24/7 - apply online anywhere, any time. Get started today.

About the Child Support Services Program: 

CSS oversees the state’s child support system. Individual child support orders are managed by Colorado’s county child support offices. You can find many helpful services on the CSS website including:

• Applying for child support services
• How to create an online account to view specific information on your child support case
• How and when to request changes to a child support order
• Different ways to make and receive child support payments
• Frequently asked questions about child support in Colorado

Visit the CSS website.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).  The average monthly amount of food assistance benefits in Sedgwick County is $32,000.00, all of which is funded entirely by the USDA.  SNAP is also tied to work activities.  Individuals and families receiving SNAP, who are between the ages of 18 and 60 must be work registered and/or in a work activity to receive their benefits.  They must participate in the Employment First program until they are employed a minimum of 30 hours a week or they are earning at least $217.50 a week gross wage, unless they are disabled or have children under the age of 6. 

The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is designed to help families with their heating bills during the winter months.  Program eligibility and benefits are based upon income criteria and the actual amount of heating costs a household incurred during the months of November through April of the prior year.  LEAP is funded 100% by the Federal Government.  In most cases, the payments are made directly to vendors.  LEAP Applications are processed by Discover Goodwill.

The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) is available to families with income at 165% FPL or below who are working or attending school, but cannot afford the full cost of child care.  The families must pay a portion of the child care costs as a parental fee to their child care provider, depending on their income and size of household.  This program is funded at a rate of 80%.

The most widely used assistance programs are the Old Age Pension (OAP), Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) and Nursing Home Assistance.  OAP is available to residents who are 60 years of age or older and meet the income and resource criteria set forth by the State Board of Human Services.  This program is funded 100%.  The average monthly payroll in Sedgwick County for OAP is approximately $3,800.00.  The Department also assists eligible citizens with Nursing Home Care and with HCBS.  HCBS is the program designed to provide assistance to individuals that may otherwise have to enter a Nursing Home Facility.  The residents of nursing homes, and HCBS clients, must also meet the income and resource criteria as set for the State Board of Human Services.  Medicaid assists in the cost of Nursing Home Care and HCBS services.  Medicaid expenditures in Sedgwick County average approximately $155,000 per month, with about 55% being spent for Nursing Home care.  The majority of the Medicaid dollars are spent in Sedgwick County and are funded by the Federal and State Government at 100%.

In accordance with the Code of Colorado Regulations Volume 7.601.81, the Sedgwick County Department of Human Services shall maintain and utilize a written protocol regarding quality assurance and investigatory processes to monitor for falsification of child welfare records in the comprehensive child welfare information system known as Trails.

Falsification of child welfare records examples can include and are not limited to:

• Representing that a contact occurred when it did not.
• Representing specific content was discussed during a contact when it was not.
• Representing facts about a contact that was not true (e.g., representing that someone was not
  Part of a contact because they were out of the state when they were not.)
• Representing that information was sent to a client or collateral (e.g., letter, text, etc.)
  When it was not.
• Representing that someone was present during a contact or meeting when that individual
  Was not present.
• Changing information in an area of Trails then renders the information, or part of the
  Information, inaccurate.

Suspicion of falsification of child welfare records may come to the attention of the Sedgwick County Department of Human Services in various ways such as a grievance filed or as part of a supervisor’s performance review for quality assurance. Regardless of how an allegation of falsification comes to the attention of the agency, the Sedgwick County Department of Human Services shall initiate a review of the allegation as a personnel matter with the following considerations.

Upon receiving an allegation of suspected falsification of child welfare records the Sedgwick County Department of Human Services will notify the agency’s Director and the County Attorney within 1 working day.

Sedgwick County Department of Human Services Director will determine if the employee in question should be placed on administrative leave.

If it is determined the employee will be placed on administrative leave or temporary suspension for the purpose of investigating a suspected incident of falsification of child welfare records, then the Sedgwick County Department of Human Services shall request that the state department suspend the employee’s access to the comprehensive child welfare information system known as Trails within one (1) working day from the date the employee is placed on leave in accordance with Volume 7.601.81 (B, 1).

During the personnel investigation the Sedgwick County Department of Human Services shall make reasonable efforts to promptly preserve evidence that a child welfare record has been falsified and supervise or restrict the employee’s access to child welfare records including but not limited to Trails, hard copy case files, and other child welfare case related documents.

The personnel investigation will be conducted by the Director, if the Director is unavailable then the County Attorney will conduct the investigation. The county department shall complete the investigation even when the employee subject of the investigation resigns, is terminated, or is no longer employed by the county department at the time the suspected falsification of child welfare records becomes known to the county department.

Sedgwick County Department of Human Services considers a confirmed incident of falsification of child welfare records an ethical violation of the agency’s code of conduct.

In accordance with Volume 7.601.81 (A) a confirmed incident of falsification of child welfare records is an incident where, after an investigation by the county department, the county department establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that a person knowingly or intentionally made a false entry or falsely altered information in the comprehensive child welfare information system known as Trails.

When the Sedgwick County Department of Human Services confirms an incident of falsification of child welfare records the agency will complete the following notifications within the required response times in accordance with Volume 7.601.81.

Within three (3) working days: The County Director will notify the Division of Child Welfare by email.

Within ten (10) working days: The County Director will notify the appropriate law enforcement agency or the district attorney by a phone call and follow up with an email. The Director will also notify the court for any open dependency and neglect or juvenile relinquish case by email.

Within ten (10) working days and utilizing both the preferred contact method of the individual and the state approved notification letter which shall be mailed by first class U.S mail to the last known address of each individual: The county Director will notify the following:
 

• Notification to the parents and guardians of the child/youth who was alleged or found to
  To be the victim of abuse or neglect or a youth in conflict.
• Notification to the person found or alleged to be responsible for the abuse or neglect.
   
• Notification to the child/youth if age ten (10) years old or older.
• Notification to the legal counsel and Guardian ad Litem for the individuals involved in an open
  Dependency and neglect or juvenile delinquency case.

Any notice of a corrected child welfare record provided to the individuals named above shall be documented Trails.

The Sedgwick County Department of Human Services will consider the following actions in the agency’s review of this personnel matter (including and not limited to):

• Identifying who all from the agency is involved.
• Pull a comprehensive report of the employee’s workload current and past.
• Initiate quality assurance steps:
• Calls to clients and/or collateral contacts
• Interview with employee in question
• Determine what is the nature of the falsification:
• When did the suspended incident(s) occur?
• How many incidents have been confirmed (breadth and depth)?
• Did the employee admit to the falsification (if interviewed)?
• Determine if there are any unresolved safety issues that exist for families?
• Have any assessments and/or cases been reassigned?
• Confirm all required parties have been notified.
• Determine what additional steps the agency needs to take to address this matter.

POLICY STATEMENT:
Sedgwick County Department of Human Services is committed to maintaining a fair and
transparent process for addressing and resolving grievances raised by its clients, customers, and
other stakeholders. This policy outlines the procedures and guidelines for reporting and handling
grievances in a timely and respectful manner.

SCOPE:
This policy applies to all clients, customers, members, contractors, and other relevant parties
associated with Sedgwick County Department of Human Services.

DEFINITION OF GRIEVANCE:
A grievance refers to any concern, complain, or issue raised by an individual related to their
interactions with Sedgwick County Department of Human Services or any aspect of the
organization’s operations.

REPORTING PROCEDURE:
Any individual with a grievance should first attempt to resolve that grievance directly with the
employee or that employee’s supervisor. If it cannot be resolved with the employee or their
supervisor, the individual should promptly report their concern to Sedgwick County Department
of Services Director. Grievances must be submitted in writing.

Child Welfare grievances may be reported directly to the Child Protection Ombudsman at (720)
625-8640.

CONFIDENTIALITY:
All information related to the grievance will be handled with utmost confidentiality to the extent
permitted by law. However, it may be necessary to disclose certain information during the
investigation process.

INVESTIGATION PROCESS:
Upon receiving a grievance, Sedgwick County Department of Human Services will initiate an
impartial and thorough investigation. This may involve interviews with relevant parties,
gathering of relevant documents, and any other necessary steps to assess and resolve the
grievance.

TIMELINES:
Sedgwick County Department of Human Services is committed to addressing and resolving
grievances in a timely manner. The organization will aim to complete the investigation and
communicate the outcome within 30 days of receiving the grievance.

COMMUNICATION:
Updates on the status of the grievance and its resolution will be provided to the parties involved
upon specific request made by parties.

FINAL DECISION AND RESOLUTION OPTIONS:
Sedgwick County Department of Human Services will provide a written final decision to the
individual filing the grievance within 35 days. Based on the findings of the investigation,
Sedgwick County Department of Human Services will take appropriate corrective action. This
may include providing training, implementing policy changes, or any other action deemed
necessary to address the grievance. All actions related to an employee’s conduct will align with
the Sedgwick County Policy Handbook.

APPEALS PROCESS:
If the individual filing the grievance is not satisfied with the outcome of the grievance process,
they may file an appeal with the County Human Services Director within 15 days of receiving
the outcome.

As it specifically applies to child welfare matters, if the County Department is unable to resolve
the grievance to the complainant’s satisfaction, the complainant may contact the Office of the
Child Protection Ombudsman at (720) 625-8640.

NON-RETALIATION:
Sedgwick County Department of Human Services prohibits any form of retaliation against
individuals who raise grievances in good faith.

RECORD KEEPING:
Records of grievances and their resolutions will be maintained in accordance with applicable
legal and regulatory requirements.

COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS:
This policy complies with all relevant local, state, and federal laws and regulations governing
grievance procedures.