HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-05-2016 - 7-b - Realignment of Staff Resources at Social Services to Reflect Legal Requirements, and Approve Budget Amendment #3-A 1
ORD-2016-047
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 5, 2016
Action Agenda
Item No. 7-b
SUBJECT: Realignment of Staff Resources at Social Services to Reflect Legal
Requirements of the Affordable Care Act, and Approve Budget Amendment#3-
A for Additional Funding for the Food and Nutrition Employment and Training
Program
DEPARTMENT: Social Services
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Award Letter Nancy Coston, 919-245-2800
Sharron Hinton, 919-245-2800
PURPOSE: To:
1) Create four (4) permanent part-time benefited positions funded by Second Family
Foundation;
2) Create one (1) permanent part-time non-benefited position funded by UNC Hospital;
3) Allow the Social Services Director flexibility to create temporary positions and varying
limited time trainee appointments for subsidized employment positions for work program
participants using existing and expanded work program funding; and
4) Accept additional federal funds by approving Budget Amendment#3-A.
BACKGROUND: Legal requirements related to the Affordable Care Act necessitate changes in
the way temporary positions are established and used at Social Services. Several programs
within the department provide funds for part-time staff and/or create temporary job opportunities
for program participants to establish employment history and gain work-related skills. The three
impacted program areas and related staffing changes are outlined below:
• The Second Family Foundation currently pays for three temporary positions to mentor at-risk
youth participating in the Second Family Foundation program and to transport them to jobs
and other activities. Second Family has also requested to fund a fourth, similar position
before the end of the year. The Second Family program is well established, and the
employees are expected to work a sufficient number of hours to qualify for health insurance
coverage and other benefits under County policy. As a result, Social Services recommends
creating four part-time 20 hour-per-week permanent staff positions for this program that will
include benefits. All costs, including benefits, will be reimbursed by Second Family.
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• UNC Hospital continues to request a part-time economic services supervisor to work on-site
at the hospital assisting with Medicaid applications. This position is currently a temporary
position, but it is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. As a result, Social Services
recommends establishing a permanent part-time position to work at UNC Hospital 15 hours
per week. The County's costs are reimbursed through the hospital contract.
• Social Services received notification of a grant award in the amount of $540,000 for federal
fiscal year 2016-17 to expand the Food and Nutrition Employment and Training program in
Orange County. This $340,000 dollar increase requires a match that can be met this year
with existing funds, and also allows Social Services to help more individuals acquire jobs that
pay the County living wage of$13.15 per hour through subsidized employment.
There are some unique challenges related to creating positions for subsidized employees,
and the proposed plan created with Human Resources and Finance will address those
issues but require minor changes to procedures. Social Services proposes to place most of
the subsidized employment program participants into six-month temporary positions based
on the individual's skill sets and available job placement sites. Most of these sites are in
county government, other government agencies or non-profits, but some are in local
businesses.
There will be some special circumstances warranting additional time in subsidized
employment beyond the six-month period (for example, individuals with serious barriers such
as former foster youth). These individuals will be placed in trainee appointments and will be
provided benefits. The Social Services Director would indicate the length of the appointment
to the individual as well as to Human Resources and Finance. This would assure that these
employees receive appropriate benefits while maintaining the flexibility needed to operate an
effective subsidized employment program, particularly for individuals with substantial
barriers. The number of participants involved would be dictated by the funding available for
this program component.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The increased grant award will increase the overall County budget.
Since Social Services will realign the current approved budget, sufficient funds will be available
to provide the match required for the current fiscal year. Social Services is not requesting
additional County funds to expand this program. Budget Amendment #3-A provides for the
acceptance of the additional $340,000 in federal funds for the above stated purposes. The
other positions impacted by this proposal are reimbursed under current agreements and have
no associated County costs.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to
this agenda item:
• GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY
The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary
for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their
dependents.
These positions and programs support the economic self-sufficiency goal by providing
opportunities for low-income individuals to receive additional training and job placement services
and to increase their wages.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
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1) Create four (4) permanent part-time benefited positions at 20 hours per week funded by
Second Family Foundation;
2) Create one (1) permanent part-time non-benefited position at 15 hours per week funded
by UNC Hospital;
3) Allow the Social Services Director flexibility to create temporary positions and varying
limited time trainee appointments for subsidized employment positions for work program
participants using existing and expanded work program funding; and
4) Accept additional federal funds by approving Budget Amendment#3-A.
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N6.1Z Richard 0. Brajer
Secretary
Wayne E . Black
Senior Director for Social ;services
Social Services
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES and County Operations
October 28, 2016
,,'"'"'
Ms. Nancy Coston, Director '�
Orange County Department of Social Services
113 Mayo St. Hillsborough, NC 2727
ncoston@orangecountync.gov
Re: FY 2016-2017 NC Food and Nutrition Services Employment&Training
(FNS E&T) State Plan
Dear Ms. Coston,
The North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services Employment and Training (FNS
E&T) FY 2017 State Plan has been approved by USDA.
Orange County is now authorized to administer the FNS E&T program effective
October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017.
You have agreed to provide employment, education,training services and
reimbursement of participant expenses to your FNS E&T participants as stipulated
in your county's Plan of Action.
Orange County's approved operating budget is as follows: is
100 % Federal Funds $ 435,000
50 % Federal Matching Funds (Participant Reimbursement) $ 95,000
50% County Funds (Participant Reimbursement) $ 95,000
50% Federal Matching Funds (Dependent Care) $ 10,000
50% County Funds (Dependent Care) $ 10,000
As you are aware, Section 4022 of the Agriculture Act of 2014 required USDA FNS to
develop national reporting measures and additional reporting measures for each
E&T component that is intended to serve at least 100 participants.
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Department of Health and Human Services I Division of Social Services I Economic and Family Services ,
220 South Boylan Avenue 1 2420 flail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-7.920
919 527 6300 T 1 919 334 1265 F
5
Over the course of FY 2016-2017,we will be working with each FNS E&T county to
refine these measures and to ensure the data sources and collection methodologies
are appropriate, and will yield outcome data that will help inform the State and
USDA FNS about the effectiveness of the E&T program.
Renee Smith, FNS E&T Coordinator is available at (919) 527-6379 or
renee.smith@dhhs.nc.gov to address any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Sa " �-
David Locklear, Section Chief
Division of Social Services, Economic and Family Services
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
is
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Degaitment of Health and Human Services 1 Division of Social Services 1 Lconomio and Family Services
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