The Fresno County Board of Supervisors approved a planned audit Tuesday of its Department of Social Services, an agency with a checkered past as it pertains to foster children that has drawn renewed criticism in recent weeks.
The board unanimously agreed to order Chief Administrative Officer Paul Nerland to begin the effort of finding what agency could provide such an audit. He said he’s already been in contact with state officials.
Retired social worker Lorraine Ramirez spoke at a board meeting in February, airing her concerns of the treatment of abused children and of foster parents who seek help from county officials to no avail. She addressed the board again on Tuesday.
“The audit will uncover a culture that was created by the current director of Social Services, which led to negative effects caused to children and the elderly,” Ramirez said on Tuesday. “It will expose the abuse of that position and how it trickled down to some of her closest administration which affect not only the community but the workforce at DSS.”
Ramirez was also among whistleblowers in 2021 who brought to light what she called “inhumane” conditions for children in the care of Child Protective Services.
Another former social worker in Fresno, Hunter Morgan, said many of the social workers are overwhelmed and their requests for help from the administration were often delayed or unheard.
“You’re there to understand complex medical cases, from adults to children of all ages, that we’re ill-equipped for, and managing 600 cases a year even when you’re doing some overtime, it’s not manageable, it’s pretty neglectful, and our standards are just kind of deteriorating over there,” he told the board.
Others employees of Social Services and service providers who work with the department also addressed the board, calling for the audit. At least one other directly blamed the director, Sanja Bugay.
Sanja Kovacevic Bugay was appointed by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to serve as the next Fresno County Director of Social Services. Submitted Submitted
The director of the department for about four years, Bugay took the lead in April 2022 at a time when the department’s troubles had come to light about six months prior.
The Fresno Bee in October 2021 reported foster children were sleeping on the floor and on top of tables in conference rooms at an office in downtown Fresno where social workers report to work. Social workers expressed concerns about the living conditions of the youth, who were awaiting permanent placement or were unable to return to their previous placements.
Critics have said more recently the department has placed foster children too quickly back into abusive homes.
Bugay said on Tuesday social workers have seen increases in the work they do per case though she said the number of cases has decreased since she took over. She noted a 14% vacancy rate in the Fresno County jobs.
She said the vacancy rate was on purpose because the number of cases was decreasing, but recently the department gained approval to hire 35 social workers.
The number of cases for social workers has dropped to fewer than 20 at any given time, down from about 40, Bugay said.
The In-Home Supportive Services, which typically includes the elderly and disabled, is in a more difficult state. She said that is not unique to Fresno, but it is a greater challenge.
“(IHS case loads) we have not managed as well,” she told the board. “We’re trying to do better, and we actually are keeping up with some of our re-assessments and in a number of our programs, but not across the board.”
The push for an audit was co-sponsored by Supervisors Luis Chavez and Garry Bredefeld.
“I would like for this independent audit to just take a look at what we’re doing, what we’re doing well, what needs work, and more importantly, how do we improve our system?” Chavez said.
Bredefeld said the children under the care of county systems is a top priority.
“We will address it openly, directly and with transparency for the public,” he said.
Fresno County social worker Lorraine Ramirez, left, discusses the situation for housing foster youth within the Child Protective Services office in downtown Fresno with Fresno County administrative officer Jean Rousseau, right, during a demonstration and news conference by social workers represented by SEIU Local 521. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
Related Stories from Fresno Bee
Merced Sun-Star
Reporter Thaddeus Miller has covered cities in the central San Joaquin Valley since 2010, writing about everything from breaking news to government and police accountability. A native of Fresno, he joined The Fresno Bee in 2019 after time in Merced and Los Banos.