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San Diego County Grand Jury Says Program To Help Disabled, Seniors Needs Fixes

San Diego County Grand Jury Says Program To Help Disabled, Seniors Needs Fixes
A report from the San Diego County grand jury recommends creating separate adult and children units for the county's In-Home Supportive Services program, which serves disabled adults and children and seniors.

San Diego County's In-Home Supportive Services program, which serves disabled adults and children and seniors, needs a makeover.

That's the gist of a new report from the county grand jury. The report was prompted by a complaint about a social worker employed by the county program.

During a home visit, the social worker misinterpreted the actions of a severely disabled 10-year-old, which resulted in a two-month investigation of the parents on allegations of child abuse. The charges were eventually dismissed.

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Grand jury foreman Bob O’Connor said social workers in the program should deal with either children or adults.

“They have a wide variety of cases from adults to minors, and I think they’re not focused on any one particular age group or disability," O’Connor said.

The grand jury's report also says social workers who handle children need more specialized training in the behavior and medical limitations of children who are disabled.

About 7 percent of the In-Home Supportive Services caseload involves children under 18.

The program is administered by the county's Aging and Independence Services division. It's a state-mandated program that receives funding from federal, state and county governments.

A big decision awaits some voters this July as the race for San Diego County’s Supervisor District 1 seat heats up. Are you ready to vote? Check out the KPBS Voter Hub to learn about the candidates, the key issues the board is facing and how you can make your voice heard.