Item Description:
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Establish the unclassified position of Director of Child Support and Well-Being; approve the appointment of Tonya Berzat as the director, effective 05/05/24
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners establishes the unclassified position of Director of Child Support and Well-Being, effective May 5, 2024; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 383B.102(c)(3), the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approves the appointment of Tonya Berzat as director of Child Support and Well-Being, effective May 5, 2024.
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Background:
Under Minn. Stat. § 383B.102(c)(3) and the County’s policy on Open and Unclassified Service Appointments, the county board approves appointments of personnel in the unclassified service.
In 2018, through Resolution No. 18-0069, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners established the Director of Human Services Eligibility and Child Support to ensure consistency in director level responsibilities across areas. This director position has since been retitled Director of Economic Supports, Child Support Services and Well-being for Human Services.
The requested establishment of this new director position splits out a lead from the above to focus on the Child Support and Well-Being service areas and to work across the organization to develop systemic strategies that promote income, education, employment. and economic stability for our residents and address racial disparities. This director will lead 380+ staff in the management, planning, and coordination of operations to ensure services are customer-focused and enhance resident access to education, employment, and income and operate in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. This position will report to the Deputy County Administrator of Health and Human Services.
Following an extensive internal recruitment process, the County Administrator is recommending Tonya Berzat, be appointed Director of Well-Being and Child support, effective May 5, 2024.
Ms. Berzat has held the role of Sr. Department Administrator in Human Services over the Child Support area since 2022. In addition to providing overall leadership and management of the area, in the last two years she led initiatives partnering both internally and with community partners to create a program for parents involved with child support, implemented a talent review steering committee to develop staff, and led other projects to improve efficiency and collaboration to support the overall goal of reducing family conflict and support the well-being of children.
Prior to this role she held numerous positions as an attorney in Ramsey, Anoka, Dakota, and Hennepin Counties. She also served as the Family Law Division Chief in Anoka County for over seven years. She received her juris doctorate from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and possesses a deep knowledge of the legal system and family law.
As required by the Open and Unclassified Service Appointments Policy, a list of final applicants who interviewed for this position is on file with the Clerk of the County Board.
Current Request: The County Administrator requests the board appoint Tonya Berzat as Director of Child Support and Well-Being, effective 5/5/2024.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval