Item Description:
title
Establish the unclassified position of Director of Fraud Prevention and Program Integrity; approve the appointment of Elizabeth Beltaos as the director, effective 9/22/2024
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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 Fraud Prevention and Program Integrity, effective September 22, 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 Elizabeth Beltaos as director of Fraud Prevention and Program Integrity, effective September 22, 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.
The establishment of the Director of Fraud Prevention and Program Integrity position underscores the increasing complexity and sophistication of fraud schemes and creates a leadership role to work across the department to strategically advance and maintain the integrity of departmental programs through the prevention, detection and investigation of fraud and abuse. This position will report to the Deputy County Administrator of Health and Human Services.
Key responsibilities for this role will include:
• lead the work of the public assistance fraud team
• integrate fraud prevention strategies
• collaborate with the State and law enforcement to prevent, monitor and investigate cases of fraud
• ensure that data and continuous improvement drive the department's work and achieve results
• advise County Administration, elected officials and others on policies, programs, best practices and strategies.
Following an extensive internal recruitment process, the County Administrator is recommending Elizabeth Beltaos, be appointed Director of Fraud Prevention and Program Integrity, effective September 22, 2024.
Ms. Beltaos has over 38 years of experience working in the justice system as an attorney for the St. Paul City Attorney’s Office, Ramsey County Attorney and starting in 2005 for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. She has practiced law in several specialty areas theft and fraud prosecution.
In the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, she held roles with progressive responsibility including Assistant County Attorney, Senior Attorney and most recently Managing Attorney of the Adult Services Division where she oversaw the work of civil commitment of individuals in need of mental health and chemical dependency treatment. In this role she also led operational improvements including enhancements to case management systems, financial and budget management, diversity equity and inclusion efforts, and implementation of legislation.
She received her juris doctor from Hamline University School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Wisconsin - Madison.
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 Elizabeth Beltaos as Director of Fraud Prevention and Program Integrity, effective 9/22/2024.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval