Ventura County may hire as many as 20 additional staff members during the next two years to help deal with the growing demand for child protective services in the county.
County Supervisors on Tuesday will look at a proposal to start hiring seven additional social workers in February. The rest would be phased in over the next two years, depending on the need, and funding.
County Human Services Agency officials say the additional staff is critical to deal with skyrocketing caseloads, which they say have increased by 30% in just the past 18 months.
They say having sufficient social workers onboard is critical to protect children against child abuse, and neglect.
If all 20 positions are filled, it will cost the county about $2.1 million dollars more a year, with about half of the funding coming the federal government, and the county having to pick up the tab for the rest.
