Staffing challenges might limit the Knox County Department of Job and Family Services to only handling Knox County Public Assistance calls only
Scott Boone, the director of Knox County Job & Family Services, indicated that they are considering focusing solely on Knox County calls and applications instead of sharing responsibilities with other members of Collabor8, a partnership comprising seven county Job and Family Services agencies. Boone cited staffing challenges as a key reason for this consideration, noting that while many positions have been filled, it takes two years for new employees to become fully acclimated to the process. He emphasized the need for "all hands on deck" due to auditing changes introduced by the state. However, Boone assured that assistance would still be provided to other counties in emergency situations, with a final decision expected in the spring.
Boone also mentioned receiving a state audit report from the Family and Children First Council, which he described as generally positive but noted some observations requiring guidance for resolution.
Additionally, Boone addressed the upcoming expiration of the union contract on June 30. He plans to engage Clemans-Nelson & Associates for help in renewing the contract and expressed optimism about maintaining good relations with employee union representatives throughout the process.
