HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSS Board minutes 101518MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES
October 15, 2018
1
THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: October 15, 2018 at the
Hillsborough Commons, Hillsborough, North Carolina.
BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Tamara Dempsey-Tanner, Ann Wilkerson, Susie
Enoch and Pat Garavaglia.
GUEST: None.
BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS ABSENT: Earl McKee.
STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Director; Sharron Hinton, Human Services Manager; Lindsey Shewmaker,
Human Services Manager; and Crystal Mitchell, Human Services Manager.
I. Call to Order and Introductions
DSS Chair, Tamara Dempsey-Tanner, called the meeting to order at 4:03 pm.
II. Board Comments
Pat Garavaglia asked that an update on the Huesner Fund be added to an upcoming meeting agenda.
III. Public Comments
None.
IV. Agenda Changes
The Hurricane Florence Response and Recovery was moved to first.
V. Action Items
On a motion by Pat Garavaglia, the Board approved the minutes of August 20, 2018. Ann Wilkerson
seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent.
VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision
1. Hurricane Florence Response and Recovery
Lindsey Shewmaker gave the Board an overview of the agency’s initial response to Hurricane
Florence. Two shelters were opened prior to the arrival of the storm, one at Smith Middle School in
Chapel Hill and the other at Stanford Middle School in Hillsborough. At the highest, the shelter
census for Smith reached about 160 residents and the census for Stanford reached about 60
residents. Once the initial shelters closed, additional flooding caused a new shelter to open at
Hillsborough Commons to accommodate Orange County residents displaced by flooding.
Sharron Hinton provided an overview of the recovery process from Hurricane Florence. Eight
families were identified as having no other housing alternative when the Friday Center shelter
closed. These eight families were provided with hotel accommodations paid by DSS. Five of the
eight families were from the Camelot Apartment community. Currently, two of the families have
located new housing (apartments) and one family has identified housing to move into next week.
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES
October 15, 2018
2
Ms. Hinton noted the community efforts to assist these families.
2. Holiday Schedule
Sharron Hinton shared the dates and hours for the Toy Chest, 12/15 9am to 5pm and 12/16 1pm to
5pm. Toy collection will occur at the UNC Men’s basketball game on 12/15, several UNC Women’s
basketball games, and the Stuff the Bus event to be held on 11/24 at the Hillsborough Walmart.
Client letters will be mailed at the beginning of November for the Toy Chest. Ms. Hinton noted a
$5,000 anonymous donation has been made to the Toy Chest.
Pat Garavaglia inquired about the status of Holiday Sponsorship forms. Ms. Hinton replied that staff
are currently compiling over 250 forms and will disseminate this information hopefully within two
weeks.
3. Job Fair
Sharron Hinton recapped the Job Fair which was held in September at University Place. There
were 289 participants; 30% held at least a Bachelor’s degree. 27% of the participants were ages 50
and up with 25% falling into the 21-30 year old category. 81% of the participants do not receive
services from OCDSS. Ms. Hinton recapped there was a satisfaction survey offered to employers
and participants. Ann Wilkerson stated she was impressed with the speakers at the Job Fair. Ms.
Hinton informed the Board the next Job Fair will be held in April 2019 at DSS in Hillsborough.
4. Performance Measures
Nancy Coston referenced a letter shared with the Board from the State in regards to changes with
the performance measures. She pointed out the measures will now be growth measures meaning
the County’s baseline will be last year’s data points. The County will be expected to maintain or
improve upon each performance measure. Ms. Coston pointed out there are still concerns about
the accuracy of the data. Tamara Dempsey-Tanner stated she heard the State was looking at
establishing Regional State offices across North Carolina. Ms. Coston confirmed this and stated our
attorney, Angie Stephenson, sits on the Social Services Workgroup who is tasked with exploring
these reform ideas. Ms. Dempsey-Tanner stated she plans to read the Social Service Preliminary
Reform Plan written by the Center for Support of Families.
5. Director’s Report
The Social Services Institute has been cancelled due to the impact of Hurricane Florence.
Nancy Coston will be on leave 10/19-10/21.
VII. Announcements
Tamara Dempsey-Tanner moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:25 pm. Pat Garavaglia seconded the motion.
The motion was carried without dissent.
Submitted by:
Nancy Coston
DSS Director
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES
October 15, 2018
3
Tamara Dempsey-Tanner
Chair