HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-05-94-IX-C ORANGE COUNTY 1
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No. t Y-C
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 5, 1994
SUBJECT: Establishment of a Public Health Nurse II (PHN II) position and
acceptance of a Smart Start Contract.
DEPARTMENT: HEALTH PUBLIC HEARING: Yes X No
ATTACHMENT(S) : None INFORMATION CONTACT:
HEALTH DIRECTOR'S OFFICE X2411
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
Hillsborough - 732-8181
Chapel Hill - 968-4501
Mebane - 227-2031
Durham - 688-7331
PURPOSE:
To accept an award from the Smart Start Program in the NC Department of
Human Resources (DHR) to improve the Child Service Coordination delivery
system in Orange County; to establish a Public Health Nurse II (PHN II)
position to carry out the work of the program and to authorize the Chair to
sign the Smart Start contract between (DHR) and the Orange County Health
Department (OCHD) .
BACKGROUND:
The Orange County Partnership for Young Children Board (the local Smart
Start Board) convened a committee to assess the status of child service
coordination in Orange County. The committee found that the demand for the
service was greater than the ability of existing workers to provide. The
committee also found that additional coordination among the many agencies
involved was needed.
Local county health departments have been designated as the "lead agencies"
for the Child Service Coordination (CSC) Program involving health
departments, mental health agencies, developmental evaluation centers,
schools and other organizations. The population served is children from
age 0 - 5 who are experiencing congenital disabilities, developmental
delays or conditions which place them at risk for these. Child Service
Coordinators are case managers who assist the families of such children to
access the wide range of services that are available to deal with the
medical, emotional and social factors contributing to these conditions.
2
As a result of the committee's findings, the Orange County Health
Department submitted a proposal that would result in additional children
being added to the Health Department's child service caseload and the
existing services coordinated more effectively. The proposal submitted by
the Orange County Health Department has been recommended by the local Smart
Start Board and accepted by the Smart Start Program in the NCDHR.
The Board of Health reviewed the contract at it's meeting of November 17,
1994, and recommended that the funding be accepted and a new, permanent,
full-time PHN II position be established to carry out the work of the
contract. The grant award in the amount of $23,821 dollars will be
supplemented by Medicaid reimbursement for a portion of this positions
caseload amounting to $3,600 dollars. This results in a total project
budget for January 95- June 95, in the amount of $27,421 dollars.
RECOMMENDATION(S) : The Manager recommends that:
1. The Smart Start award to the Orange County Health
Department in the amount of $23,821 dollars be
accepted as a project grant; and
2. A new, permanent PHN II position be established,
but that the continuation of the position be
contingent on continued Smart Start funding; and
3. The Chair be authorized to sign the contract
between the NCDHR and the OCHD.