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Home My WebLink AboutORD-2016-047 Ordinance approving Budget Amendment #3-A for Fiscal Year 2016-17 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. 2 • 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: 3 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. 4 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. >"-Nothing Compares _ 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 !"''Nothing Compares Degaitment of Health and Human Services 1 Division of Social Services 1 Lconomio and Family Services i 820 Soil h Boylan venue 1 2420 h9ai1 suivice Center 1 Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-2420 919 527 6300 T 1 917 334 1265 e `^