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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSS Board Minutes 012213MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES January 22, 2013 1 THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON TUESDAY: January 22, 2013 at the Hillsborough Commons, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Garavaglia, Chair; Arthrell Sanders; and Claire Millar. GUEST: None. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBER ABSENT: Albert Williams. STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Director; Denise Shaffer, Assistant Director; and Lindsey Shewmaker, Human Services Manager. I. Call to Order and Introductions DSS Chair, Pat Garavaglia, called the meeting to order at 4:10 pm. II. Board Comments Pat Garavaglia informed the Board that Albert Williams has had hip replacement surgery and will not be attending. III. Public Comments None. IV. Agenda Changes None. V. Action Items On a motion by Arthrell Sanders the Board approved the Minutes of December 17, 2012. Claire Millar seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision 1. NC FAST Update Lindsey Shewmaker discussed the status of NC FAST in Orange County. All applications and recertifications for Food and Nutrition Services are now being done in NC FAST. Staff are still learning the system and have struggled to get benefits processed timely. The numbers of recertifications processed have increased in the last two weeks and we will continue to work on ways to assure clients receive benefits timely. 2. Budget Planning Nancy Coston gave the Board dates related to the FY2013-2014 budget. The budget is due to the County Manager on March 1st and revenue is due in February. Social Services has been given an extension and will be able to submit budget information after the March board meeting. In February, staff will present proposed contracts and potential budget issues. The state estimates MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES January 22, 2013 2 will be ready on February 15th but those are subject to change. Carol Holcomb is leaving Northen Blue to start her own practice. She would like the agency’s contract to move with her. Ms. Coston is in discussions with the county attorney’s office about this issue. The county is implementing new performance measurement requirements using outcome criteria during this budget cycle. Lindsey Shewmaker and Ms. Coston have attended training and will be working on these measures. Ms. Coston noted she had met with the Finance Director about combining and consolidating some of the budget line items to make things easier. According to the county finance office, the county is in better financial shape than it has been so there should not be significant county level reductions in funding. Ms. Coston will be attending the February 5th meeting of the Board of County Commissioners to request three time-limited positions to help with NC FAST. 3. Second Family Proposal The Second Family Foundation would like to expand their program to include employment activities for youth involved in the program. As part of this expansion, the foundation would like to provide a vehicle and part-time staff to help the youth find and maintain employment. These staff would likely be college students. 4. Director’s Report February 5th-7th is a Work Support Strategies trip to Baltimore, MD. The conference will focus on Health Reform integration with Work Support Strategies. There is a meeting this week with the ministers associated with IFC to discuss Emergency Assistance. The county is overspending in child care subsidy in the current fiscal year and is working with the state to receive a reallocation of funds. The state is changing the allocation formula for child care subsidy for FY2013-2014 and Orange County’s funding will likely decrease as a result. Pat Garavaglia asked when the Social Services Board would be informed about the appointment of a Commissioner to replace the seat vacated by Valerie Foushee. Nancy Coston responded that staff have not yet heard anything. All Department Heads are supposed to meet with the new Commissioners in the near future to orient them to agency programs and services. The Board of County Commissioners’ retreat will be held on February 1, 2013. One of the topics is poverty and a group from UNC will be presenting. This is also typically when the Commissioners make decisions on advisory board assignments. Pat Garavaglia noted that she would email Valerie Foushee to schedule a time to take her to lunch to thank her for her service to the Social Services Board. Board members agreed that a Friday would work well. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES January 22, 2013 3 VII. Announcements The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 18, 2013 at the Hillsborough Commons, 113 Mayo Street, Hillsborough, North Carolina at 4:00 pm. Claire Millar moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:21 pm. Arthrell Sanders seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. Submitted by Nancy Coston Director Pat Garavaglia Chair