Small Projects – Big Success at the County Level Trish Skophammer Assistant Director Ramsey County Attorney’s Office ERICSA 50 th Annual Training Conference & Exposition ▪ May 19 – 23 ▪ Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Small Projects – Big Success Ramsey County St. Paul, Minnesota 29,000 cases Budget reductions Loss of 6% FTE- 11 of 167 staff Preventing lay-offs

Small Projects – Big Success What we can’t control – Funding – Retirements/Resignations – Demographics What we can control – Performance – Operations

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment- Project 2010 – No order, no money – Poor performance – Demographics – Locate issues

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment – Federal Performance Measures % % % % %

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment – Backlog – Re-work – Failure to meet Federal timelines – Families going without support – Lack of consistent performance standards

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment – Old Process Referrals & applications in Intake Quick move to Case Prep staff Delayed move to Order Setting staff

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment – Intake Case & file build Focus on quickly moving cases out No case preparation Short staffed

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment – Case Preparation Gather information Paternity status cases per worker Prepped 20 case each per month

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment – Order Setting Genetic testing Re-work stale case information Non standardized language 5-10 Summons & Complaints per month Service of Process

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment – Assessment Swim lanes Lean processes Reduce touch points Reduce hand-offs Staff input

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment – Challenges Genetic testing Existing backlog Resources Training Culture change

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment – New process Intake becomes Intake & Case Prep (ICP) Increase staff in ICP Thorough case prep in ICP Increase staff in Order Setting Minimize variation in process

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment – Swab & Serve Schedule genetic testing during case prep Pleadings ready for service at GT appointment Opportunity for face-to-face contact Reduces cost of service of process

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment – The Backlog Project Team Reports & low hanging fruit Training issues Additional delays

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment – Reduced reliance on Financial Statements & Employer verifications – Increased reliance on Wagematch – Set performance standards – Zero & reserved orders – More attention to closing

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment – Outcomes Case prep 40 per month Drafters 16 per month Orders loaded earlier Service of Process & follow up Standards for language

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment – Outcomes Court teams Orders for babies Round Robin tracking Excel performance numbers 78% Establishment rate and rising!

Small Projects – Big Success Establishment – Culture & Morale Less individual ownership of cases More team ownership of cases Importance of communication Best order vs. assembly line Fluid & flexible

Small Projects – Big Success QUESTIONS? Trish Skophammer Assistant Director Ramsey County Attorney’s Office