Kathy Eilers, administrator of the Mental Health Division, said she believes the theft was an isolated case. Improvements would require more workers devoted to financial management of the client trust accounts, Eilers said in a written response to the audit. She said that could be accomplished by converting other jobs to account clerk positions. The audit recommended that the Mental Health Division revise and expand its policy and procedures manual. Workers at two Mental Health Division programs, the Community Support Program, which operates at three sites, and the Targeted Case Management program, provided services for more than 450 outpatient clients last year.
Workers help clients in several areas, including money management.
The sites receive checks on behalf of clients, including Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income payments. The audit found that one person generally opens the mail, prepares and records deposits and goes to the bank. Jenkins said there needed to be more checks and balances. Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved.