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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSS Board Minutes 051914MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES May 19, 2014 1 THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: May 19, 2014 at the Hillsborough Commons, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Garavaglia, Chair; Claire Millar; Tamara Dempsey-Tanner; Earl McKee; and Arthrell Sanders. GUEST: None. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBER ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Director; Denise Shaffer, Assistant Director; Lindsey Shewmaker, Human Services Manager; Sharron Hinton, Human Services Manager; Duston Lowell, Program Manager; Karen Lewis, Social Work Supervisor; Katherine Thompson, Intern; and Joyce Lee, Business Officer. I. Call to Order and Introductions DSS Chair, Pat Garavaglia, called the meeting to order at 4:04 pm. II. Board Comments Arthrell Sanders commented that she was glad Earl McKee won the primary election. Pat Garavaglia seconded that comment. III. Public Comments Nancy Coston introduced Katherine Thompson as an MPA/MSW intern who would be with the agency through the summer. IV. Agenda Changes None. V. Action Items On a motion by Claire Millar the Board approved the Minutes of April 21, 2014. Arthrell Sanders seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision 1. Adoption and Foster Care Overview Duston Lowell, Program Manager in Child Welfare, discussed basic processes in custody cases in child welfare. Mr. Lowell explained that the agency receives custody of children based on a judicial order citing significant safety concerns for a child. The first goal once the agency takes custody is always reunification. Often children in custody are in the care of a relative instead of foster care. The first step after a non-secure custody order is a hearing that has to occur within seven days. That is followed by adjudication where social workers bring all evidence related to the case. A Guardian ad Litem represents the best interest of the children. Staff and the Guardian ad Litem present their recommendations along with the parents’ attorneys. The judge will then make a decision about the case and issue orders. These orders may include recommendations made by parties involved like substance abuse treatment, visitation, etc. If the case goes close to twelve MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES May 19, 2014 2 months, federal law requires a permanency planning process for the child. This could include adoption, guardianship to a relative, etc. Staff and the Guardian ad Litem make recommendations about the best placement for the child. If adoption is the plan, the agency attorney files a petition for Termination of Parental Rights. The judge makes the decision about whether to terminate rights. If rights are terminated or relinquished by the parents voluntarily, the agency will move toward the adoption process. Claire Millar asked whether sibling groups are generally kept together. Mr. Lowell responded that children are kept together when possible. Denise Shaffer added that the agency has a high percentage of relinquishments and she feels that is in large part due to excellent work by social workers. Tamara Dempsey-Tanner asked what the requirements are for foster and adoptive parents. Karen Lewis explained the process of foster care and adoption. As of May 5th there are 75 foster families licensed in Orange County. There is a class currently underway to license new foster parents. The classes are taught by social workers and run ten-weeks. There are generally three classes per year and staff members have to be certified to be trainers. By the third meeting, families are assigned to a social worker to begin assessing the homes and families for safety and suitability. Social workers look at many factors including a thorough background check for prospective families. Families can only have five children in the home at a time, including birth and adoptive children. There are additional visits in the home and office prior to licensing. Ms. Lewis also noted there are numerous forms that have to be completed. All information must be sent in to the state for final approval. The entire process can take five to six months to complete and licenses are good for two years. Once certified there are requirements for continuous education. All prospective foster parents attend an orientation prior to beginning the process. Families can foster parent, foster to adopt, or adopt. If a family is interested in adoption, the social worker will work with the family to start an adoption home study. All children freed for adoption without a permanent plan are listed on NC KIDS, a website that helps agencies recruit adoptive families. If a child is in a foster home and is freed for adoption, the child may be moved into a foster home that is also interested in adopting. If multiple families are interested in adopting a child, a committee will help select the best fit for the child. The child and family will be introduced slowly with visits while social workers assess the family’s and child’s readiness. If things are going well after a few months, the social worker will meet with the family to get ready to file the adoption petition. The adoption petition can pend for 90 days before it is final. The Clerk of Court can waive the waiting period in some cases. Sometimes families have signing parties or other celebrations when an adoption is finalized. Mr. Lowell added that there are times when a parent will file an appeal after rights are terminated. This delays the process and keeps a child in limbo while the appeal is ongoing. Generally the appeals are upheld but the process is much slower. Ms. Shaffer added that a number of children are adopted by their foster parents. Ms. Lewis noted that children in foster care are supported by board payments which vary based on the age of the child. For non-licensed placements, families can receive Work First cash assistance which is a much lower rate. Adoption Assistance may also be available to support families who adopt children with additional needs. Ms. Dempsey-Tanner asked whether there are special trainings for foster parents who are caring for a child with special needs. Ms. Lewis responded that some parents are sent to Teer House in Durham for additional training. Hospital staff also provide training for foster parents before a child MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES May 19, 2014 3 with serious needs is released. Mr. Lowell also noted that there are therapeutic foster placements for children with a higher level of needs. Those families are licensed by different agencies and have additional training. Earl McKee noted that he received a phone call about an adoption case that he referred to the director, County Manager, and County Attorney. He noted that his first response in these cases is to refer it back to the agency director. Ms. Lewis referred board members to the agency website and the videos that are posted about foster or adoptive parenting. 2. Budget and Staffing Update Nancy Coston informed the Board that the Board of County Commissioners approved the requests for retaining the social workers from the schools and the child care funding to spend in June. She added that there are some people in the community who are upset about fund reversion for child care and reminded the Board that the shutdown impacted the agency’s ability to expend all funds this year. Earl McKee asked what the plan is if none of the social workers are hired by the schools. Ms. Coston responded that between grant funds and other needs there is enough work for all the staff if the schools do not hire any of them. 3. Follow Up from Joint Meeting Nancy Coston informed the Board that there were a few follow-up items from the Joint Meeting including the charts for Medicaid and Food and Nutrition Services that she handed out. Pat Garavaglia noted that there was also a follow up about the housing program with landlords. Ms. Coston responded that she has had conversations with the acting Director of Housing and Human Relations about who is going to work on this proposal. It may be a joint venture. Earl McKee noted he would follow up on that at Chair-Vice Chair on Tuesday. 4. Director’s Evaluation Planning Nancy Coston asked whether the Board wanted an updated work plan with comments to start the evaluation process. Pat Garavaglia noted she thought that worked well. 5. Director’s Report Nancy Coston noted that CMS will be onsite in June to look at NC FAST. 6. Executive Session Arthrell Sanders moved to executive session pursuant to GS§ 143-318.11(a)(6). Tamara Dempsey-Tanner seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. VII. Announcements The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 16, 2014 at the Hillsborough Commons, 113 Mayo Street, Hillsborough, North Carolina at 4:00 pm. Tamara Dempsey-Tanner moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:20 pm. Arthrell Sanders seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES May 19, 2014 4 Submitted by Nancy Coston Director Pat Garavaglia Chair