Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSS Board Minutes 102113MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES October 21, 2013 1 THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: October 21, 2013 at the Hillsborough Commons, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Garavaglia, Chair; Claire Millar; and Arthrell Sanders. GUEST: None. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBER ABSENT: Mark Dorosin. STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Director; Denise Shaffer, Assistant Director; Lindsey Shewmaker, Human Services Manager; and Joyce Lee, Business Officer. I. Call to Order and Introductions DSS Chair, Pat Garavaglia, called the meeting to order at 4:05 pm. II. Board Comments None. III. Public Comments Jamika Ashley introduced herself as a reporter with the Herald Sun. IV. Agenda Changes None. V. Action Items On a motion by Arthrell Sanders the Board approved the Minutes of September 16, 2013. Claire Millar seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision 1. Government Shutdown Recap Nancy Coston reminded the Board that at the time the agenda went out, staff were uncertain whether this would be an update or recap. The state informed the agency to stop work on the Adolescent Parenting Program (APP) which is a contract with the state. The agency also received a stop work order on the Food and Nutrition Services Employment and Training Program. Additionally, the county received notice from the state that child care subsidy payments were not guaranteed and that the Work First employment program was being suspended because the state felt that clients could not continue to work under pay after performance due to concerns that checks might not be issued in a continued shut down. The county suspended the requirement for Work First clients to come in and suspended child care for those families. All of those families have since been instructed to return to work activities and child care subsidy has been reinstated. It takes a few days to get the programs stopped and restarted. Ms. Coston attended the Board of County Commissioners meeting to help Commissioners understand the risks in continuing the programs and requested the APP program be restarted. The child care program costs approximately MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES October 21, 2013 2 $350,000-$400,000 per month so it is a greater risk if funds are not received. Ms. Coston added the scariest part was about things that did not happen but could have like suspension of Work First payments and Food and Nutrition Services benefits. Claire Millar asked whether North Carolina was the only state that suspended Work First. Ms. Coston responded that she was unsure how many states began the process of suspending programs. Ms. Millar also asked whether this caused a lot more work for staff. Ms. Coston responded that there was a lot of work on the part of managers to develop contingency plans, but that most staff were not impacted. Cheryl Young asked whether anyone actually lost child care during this. Ms. Coston responded that her understanding was that nobody lost slots and staff are working to get these families back into their child care centers. Ms. Coston also noted that the Commissioners asked that she come back to present on sequestering and the shutdown to discuss financial impacts to the county. Pat Garavaglia added we are fortunate to be in Orange County instead of some of the counties that had to end services immediately due to lack of funding. Ms. Coston noted that some counties receive interim payments and losing those has an immediate impact on their ability to run programs. 2. ACA/NC FAST Lindsey Shewmaker presented on the current progress of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and NC FAST. NC FAST is moving along and staff are now entering most applications into the system. Nancy Coston commented on the increased need for food for families as the agency continues putting more information into NC FAST. Since some families have needed food for several weeks while benefits are being processed, a variety of food is preferable. Claire Millar asked whether more food from PORCH was needed. Ms. Coston responded that PORCH food will be needed through the first of the year. She added that the food pantries have been great in working with the agency to help families receive food. Pat Garavaglia asked whether there had been issues with access to the federal website for ACA. Ms. Coston responded that there have been access issues and added that giving access to the plans without needing to use an account to login has been helpful. 3. Flood Update Denise Shaffer informed the Board that twenty-four cases are completely finished while sixty-five families have been approved. Claire Millar asked whether there were any happy stories. Ms. Shaffer responded that families have been very appreciative of the assistance. There are a few families who appear not to have applied for state aid and are in serious need. Staff are trying to work with FRIENDS and others to assist these families. Cheryl Young asked whether there was a hard deadline. Ms. Shaffer responded that the deadline was September 13, 2013 to apply for state aid. Some of the families in public housing received assistance from the Town of Chapel Hill in the immediate aftermath and did not apply for other services timely. Pat Garavaglia noted that she had received a call from an apartment complex that could help with repairs. Ms. Shaffer responded that Rocky Brook would be a good place to begin. Ms. Garavaglia added a thank you to Jonathan MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES October 21, 2013 3 Yeomans for the timely response to resolve issues related to the flood. 4. Veterans’ Services Sharron Hinton informed the Board that Betsey Corbett is the new Veterans’ Services Officer. She is in the process of working with local groups to plan activities for Veterans’ Day. There will be a breakfast from 8:30am-10:30am at the Central Orange County Senior Center in Hillsborough on November 11th. Ms. Corbett is working with several Veterans Groups to plan other events and outreach activities. Ms. Hinton added that if anyone has ideas or suggestions for outreach or other Veterans’ Programs to let her know. Arthrell Sanders asked whether Ms. Corbett is stationed at Hillsborough Commons. Ms. Hinton responded that she has an office here but will also be at other locations around the county on a rotating basis. 5. Holiday Plans Sharron Hinton reminded the Board the Toy Chest will be held December 14th-16th. Letters to families and sponsors will be going out in early November. Wish lists are due this Friday which will help in making sure they get organized timely. Rebekah Rapoza is coordinating the distribution of Toys for Tots collection boxes around the county. Ms. Hinton noted that UNC-Chapel Hill has offered two different basketball games to collect toys, December 7th and 14th. There are some logistical issues about holding the event on the 14th but that is the Kentucky game which will draw a larger crowd. The UNC Athletic Department is also planning to send staff to volunteer at the event on opening day. Cheryl Young asked who donates the toys for the event. Ms. Hinton responded that there are many community supporters who donate money and toys, including Balloons and Tunes, UNC-Chapel Hill, and others. Pat Garavaglia stated that the Kentucky game will be well attended and most season ticket holders will not give up their tickets to that game. Since most of the reminders about the event will go to season ticket holders, this will help with continuity. Arthrell Sanders added that the North Carolina Central University Alumni group will hold their event the first weekend in the month to support the Toy Chest. Ms. Garavaglia asked whether the agency plans to distribute food at the event. Ms. Hinton responded that staff hope to get food donations and will distribute all food received. Unfortunately the food does not last for the duration of the event. Ms. Hinton added that there are other groups who provide holiday dinners to families. Ms. Garavaglia noted that she wanted to take on the sponsorship of all the foster children. 6. Director’s Report Pat Garavaglia asked whether staff had heard anything about the Farm Bill. Nancy Coston MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES October 21, 2013 4 responded that it was included in the continuing resolution. VII. Announcements The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 18, 2013 at the Hillsborough Commons, 113 Mayo Street, Hillsborough, North Carolina at 4:00 pm. Claire Millar moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:59pm. Arthrell Sanders seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. Submitted by Nancy Coston Director Pat Garavaglia Chair