Clarion County addresses caseworker shortage

From staff reports

The shortage of caseworkers in Clarion County’s Children and Youth Services department was addressed Tuesday at a county commissioners workshop meeting.

The county will hire three new caseworkers – Saber Brown, Stacy Winger and Jamie Davis – next week.

All three will start at the Caseworker I level.

Tim Cochran, the county’s asset manager and employee relations director, said all three met the educational requirements.

He said they will have 30 days after the hiring date to take the Civil Service test.

“We advertised for caseworkers and got zero applicants,” said Cochran. “We went to Civil Service and told them what happened and they have an emergency directive and we were allowed to operate under that directive,” Cochran added.

Cochran said that still doesn’t bring the caseworkers up to the full complement.

“We will be advertising,” he said.

Commissioners will meet again at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the county Administration Building.