Testimony on proposed continuation of a
consolidated Human Services Administration
TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS of
THE COUNTY OF SULLIVAN:
June 24, 1992, 7:30 P.M.
Honorable members of the Board:
My name is Tom Rue. My wife Carmen and I pay taxes and live here in Monticello. I am a nationally certified counselor with a majority of my post-graduate experience with children and families in a variety of work settings, including residential placement, probation, placement prevention efforts, general counseling services, as well as college teaching. I also maintain a limited private counseling practice in Monticello. I currently serve, with my wife, on a voluntary basis, on the board of directors of the Community Action Commission to Help the Economy, representing The Salvation Army, where I chair the board development committee. Carmen represents Sullivan County United Way. I am president of the board of directors of the. Upper Delaware Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, where my wife also serves on that board. Some of you know that, in addition to these and other activities in tile community, since 1989, I have been employed by an agency which contracts to provide intensive clinical counseling services to families which have one or more children who are at high risk of out-of-home placenent. Let me say now that I am not here tonight representing my employer, which is a large and well-regarded family service agency headquartered outside this immediate area. Instead, I am speaking as a concerned, interested and active resident and taxpayer who also happens to have had the benefit of several years experience working closely with this County's human service system, in both the public and private sectors.
I attended this morning's hearing as an observer, and intended to come tonight also to simply listen to my neighbors and colleagues. However, I now feel moved to briefly share some of my own views and feelings on a matter which I consider to be of crucial concern. I feel compelled to speak publicly on critical issues when I consider it important that people do so. This is one such occasion.
A little over three years ago, I was among those privileged to address this body, at a hearing similar in format to this one, in support of a so-called "hotel room tax" law, intended to bring into public coffers more money to meet the needs of local people. Whether that measure met its intended aim is to be determined by this board and by the Treasurer's office. But I am reminded of that vote now, since it seemed as controversial and perhaps nearly as close as this one may be, although the outcome this time will likely have a more direct and personal impact on the lives of many of your constituents, my clients -- individual human beings some of whom have not met with the same advantages with which we have been blessed in this life.
I am personally acquainted with several people who are opposed to the existence of a county Human Services Administration, and I respect them and their reasons. Most of us, I suspect, have chosen to serve our communities with a desire to help others. In that sense, we are all in human services. In the years I have known her and known of her, I have seen Commissioner Howard as intent on helping people better themselves and their situations. I have become convinced, over the past two years, that the Human Services Administration is effectively working for the good of the people of Sullivan County. Preservation of families is high on this administration's priority list, for a variety of reasons. Many of tha criticisms I have heard and read of a centralized Human Services Administration have seemed to me to be unfair or based on incorrect preconceptions. Commissioner Howard encourages, and brings about, delivery of services in a humane and non-intrusive fashion by mandating interagency coordination at a systemic depth which would and could not not occur without authoritive intervention. This has had the effect of reducing the frequency with which our children and youth need to be sent outside the county for the benefit of residential treatment, and also of permitting our youth to remain in family or family-like settings whenever possible. Private agencies now work at a greater intensity, in partnership with the County of Sullivan, to bring about the common good and reduce costs. In recent years, I have witnessed enthusiastic cooperation between local agencies where previously we often saw duplicated efforts, running on parallel tracks at best, and at worst, professional power struggles and turf wars. Specific improvements have included creation of public/private groups like Sullivan County Coordinated Family Services and the PINS adjustment Designated Assessment Team. Both are worthy examples of the type of fine leadership which should be continued. I have seen these groups in action and believe they are effective in their attempts to meet the needs of client families holistically rather than piecemeal, attempting to resolve family problems through counseling and other service referrals rather than going throuyh an already over-burdened Family Court or other formal processes.
There are many other examples, but I have taken enough time. I commend this Board for its foresight and vision, and respectfully urge you to continue the exemplary policies and practices which have placed Sullivan County at the forefront of revolutionary changes in the area of human services delivery. What the County is now doing is helping. I hope it will continue.
TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS of
