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SLC Department of Social Services to have office space in Clifton-Fine school

Posted 1/26/23

BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI North Country This Week CANTON — The St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services will soon have office space in Clifton-Fine Central School. Officials signed off on the …

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SLC Department of Social Services to have office space in Clifton-Fine school

Posted

BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

CANTON — The St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services will soon have office space in Clifton-Fine Central School.

Officials signed off on the resolution during the services committee meeting on Jan. 23.

According to DSS Commissioner Joseph Seeber, the space won’t be staff every day but rather will be used as necessary.

Seeber told officials the space will house the children’s services unit as part of a larger initiative “to get more out of the communities helping our school districts.”

Officials say the allocation of resources to alternative offices such as Clifton-Fine will allow rural communities to have access to Department of Social Services staff “to ensure the bests outcomes for families and students.”

The space will come at no cost to the county, according to officials.

Seeber also said the department had higher than anticipated costs in a number of areas, requiring a 2022 budget modification for DSS.

Seeber said money needed to be shifted around “to clean things up” as medical assistance costs were $323,710 lower than expected.

Legislators approved a budget modification to decrease the appropriation for medical assistance.

The resolution passed by legislators called for $138,291 to be spent on administrative expenses, Medicaid, child and foster care and general services to recipients.

The resolutions will now move to the full board for final approval.