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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-05-2004-9bORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 5, 2004 Action Agenda Item No. a-~ __ SUBJECT: Contract for Social Work Services Between Orange County Schools and Orange County Department of Social Services DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Proposed Contract Nancy Costan, ext. 2802 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider a contract between the Orange County Schools and the Orange County Department of Social Services for the provision of four additional Department of Social Services positions to provide social work and case management services in the schools, BACKGROUND: The Orange County Schools system has determined a need far additional social workers to expand services to students within the district. Orange County Schools presently employs four social workers to serve their student population, and this contract would add four additional social work positions at the schools. Services include identificaticn of family, economic and social issues impacting the ability of students to have successful academic outcomes, provision of counseling to children and families with certain risk factors, and provision of other supportive services to address the identified problems. The Orange County Department of Social Services has as a part of its mission the prevention of abuse and neglect of children as well as the promotion of self-sufficiency and family well-being, The Department has federal Medicaid funding available through a program called At-Risk Case Management to assist certain at risk families. This particular service requires a local match and must be provided by employees of a local department of social services. Through a contractual arrangement, Orange County Department of Social Services proposes to provide four Social Worker positions to serve at risk children in the Orange County Schools. The staff would be located at the schools although they would be employees of the Department of Social Services. The social work positions would be contingent on the existence of this contract and staff hired into those positions would be informed of this contingency. Social work staff would be hired, supervised, and trained by the Department of Social Services in regular communication and consultation with appropriate School staff. This is the same methodology currently in place between the Orange County Department of Social Services and the UNC Hospitals for the employment of Medicaid workers. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools system personnel have also been apprised of this fund availability and the opportunity to participate in a similar effort should it desire. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Department of Social Services will bill Medicaid when the client and service meet the eligibility requirements, All other costs for the positions will be billed to the Orange County Schools system. The Orange County Schools system will pay these casts from funds already available in the approved budget, Social Services and Orange County Schools estimate that the Schools and Medicaid will each share half of the annual cost of $193,552. No additional County funds are being requested, Orange County Schools also recognizes that this pass-through, contractual arrangement does not represent an increase in its continuing budget as far as state prescribed per pupil funding is concerned, nor is it an obligation by the County to assume any local costs the Schools may request far this endeavor in the future. Annual Position Annual One Time Start- Offsetting 2004-05 Net Costs Operating Costs Up Costs Revenue Position and Sala /Benefits Start-U Costs $188,552 $0 $5,000 $193,552* $0 * Medicaid and Orange County School funds RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the contract subject to final review by staff and the County Attorney and establish four new permanent full time social worker positions to be funded through the contract and contingent on the continuation of the contract funding, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF ORANGE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this the 1st day of November 2004, by and between THE ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM (hereinafter referred to as Orange County Schools, and ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, (hereinafter referred to as DSS). WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, the parties have agreed with each other that DSS will provide certain services for Orange County Schools; and WHEREAS, Orange County Schools have agreed to pay certain compensation for said service and the parties desire to execute this contract to delineate their understanding of this agreement; WHEREAS, DSS is authorized by the State Division of Medical Assistance to provide case management services to Medicaid eligible children at risk of abuse of neglect and is eligible for certain Medicaid reimbursement for the costs of providing this service; and WHEREAS, many of the children served by Orange County Schools are Medicaid eligible; and WHEREAS, Orange County Schools is committed to providing preventive social work services to its students; and NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows: t . DSS agrees to provide four social work staff to provide services exclusively to referrals of the Orange County schools. 2.. Orange County Schools agrees to reimburse DSS within 15 days of receipt of monthly billings for the county share of the salary, benefits, and all indirect costs (including travel) of the social work staff assigned to the Orange County Schools. 3, Other supportive services provided by DSS without additional charge to Orange County Schools include continuing program training of social workers, program supervision, verification of Medicaid eligibility, and Medicaid billing and reconciliation. 4 Other supportive services provided by Orange County Schools without charge to OCDSS include: office space, parking space, office equipment, clerical support, and telephone service, 5 Orange County Schools and DSS will work together to develop procedures for referral and service provision for students at the schools. 6, As employees of the County, the social workers shall be directly supervised by and accountable to OCDSS. Due to the nature of this agreement, a close working relationship beiween the two organizations is essential. To facilitate this relationship, Orange County Schools and DSS will establish liaisons to provide coordination and oversight. Assignment of work to the social workers and coordination of sick, vacation, and other leave will be the joint responsibility of the liaisons, 7. Orange County Schools shall participate in the interviewing and selection process utilized by DSS for the hiring of the social workers covered by this agreement, in accordance with Orange County policy and procedures. 8 Both the DSS and Orange County Schools agree and understand that if at any time Orange County Schools determines that a social worker's performance or professional interactions are inadequate or inappropriate, Orange County Schools may request that OCDSS initiate appropriate action to correct that employee's deficiencies, or to dismiss that employee if indicated. Any disciplinary action shall be pursued in compliance with the Orange County Personnel ordinance and Orange County Schools shall provide sufficient documentation to support that action, 9, This Agreement shall be effective from November 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005. 10 This Agreement shall be reviewed at least annually, and the parties may, at any time during the initial term of this Agreement, or any renewal term thereafter, agree in writing to renew this Agreement for an additional annual term. This Agreement may be terminated with or without cause by either party upon 60 days written notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be terminated upon 30 days written notice if sufficient funds are not available to pay the cost of staffing any of the social work positions.. 1 t The Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties and shall not be altered, amended or modified, except by an agreement in writing executed by the duly authorized officials of both parties. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this contract to be signed by its duly authorized officials. FOR AND ON BEHALF OF: FOR AND ON BEHALF OF: ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOLS Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners DATE: Attest: Clerk of the Orange County Board of Commissioners This instrument has been preaudited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act Ken Chavious, Orange County Finance Officer