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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSS Board Minutes 111813MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES November 18, 2013 1 THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: November 18, 2013 at the Hillsborough Commons, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Garavaglia, Chair; Claire Millar; Mark Dorosin; 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; and Joyce Lee, Business Officer. I. Call to Order and Introductions DSS Chair, Pat Garavaglia, called the meeting to order at 4:02 pm. II. Board Comments Pat Garavaglia commented that she enjoyed interacting with staff at the Social Services Institute. III. Public Comments None. IV. Agenda Changes None. V. Action Items On a motion by Arthrell Sanders the Board approved the Minutes of October 21, 2013. Claire Millar seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision 1. BOCC Presentation on Federal Issues Nancy Coston reminded the Board that the Board of County Commissioners had requested a follow up of impacts from the federal government shutdown. One of the presentations is a report on the impacts of federal shutdown and sequestration. The information will now be on the December 2nd meeting. The agency needs to request additional county funds for emergency assistance due to several issues impacting families this year. There has been an increased need for rental assistance, food assistance related to NC FAST, and assistance related to the flood in July. The Commissioners established a Social Justice Reserve fund and the agenda abstract requests money from that fund so the agency can continue to support families. The agency plans to request $100,000 from this fund. Ms. Coston shared the report with the Board and noted that while this may not be the final version, it generally talks about where the agency has federal dollars and the impacts on those funds when the government shuts down or cuts funding for programs. The impending budget talks and MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES November 18, 2013 2 sequestration will continue to impact the programs that receive major federal dollars. Medicaid is by far the largest of the federal programs. The dollars go straight to area providers and are not passed through the agency. Staff are still awaiting the Farm Bill legislation, and cuts that have been proposed as part of that bill will impact families and the agency. Funds received as part of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant fund social workers in child protective services. The Social Services Block Grant is impacted by the sequester. There will be another 6% cut coming this year ($21,000). The state tried to absorb some of the cuts last year. The Low Income Energy Program is also subject to sequestering. One of the things that helps the agency conserve county funds this time of year is the ability to use these federal dollars. Many of the winter utility bills are paid for by those funds. There is also a one-time payment that many families are eligible to receive beginning in December. These funds are targeted to seniors. After the first two months, other families can be served. The Child Development (CCDF) Fund is not subject to sequestering but other funds in child care are subject to these across the board cuts. If the federal government shuts down again, the agency would probably not remove children from child care unless it looked like it would be a long-term issue. Mark Dorosin commented that the Social Justice Fund was created with this type of issue in mind. Commisioner Dorosin suggested that it might be helpful to add numbers under the Low Income Energy Assistance Program and other programs listed in the report. He noted that it is helpful for his colleagues to see the numbers of people served by these programs. He offered to try to assist on the other side during the presentation. He added he would support the decision to continue to provide child care subsidy at least for a short term. Ms. Coston replied that it was difficult to get the information to Commissioners timely enough to make a decision. Commissioner Dorosin noted that there could be some expedited consideration in the future and stated he would be happy to raise this issue at the annual retreat. Ms. Coston added that child care subsidy adds up very quickly and staff were not comfortable putting the county at risk financially for such large sums without some approval. She noted if the agency had tentative approval to maintain services during uncertainty it would be helpful if similar issues occur in the future. Ms. Coston also thanked PORCH for providing the agency with lots of additional food to support families. 2. ACA/NC FAST Lindsey Shewmaker updated the Board on the status of NC FAST. Hard launch was originally supposed to occur today in Orange County but has now been moved to December 9, 2013. Staff continue to prepare and are working their hardest to ensure families receive the benefits to which they are entitled. She added that the pressure of this is taking a toll on staff. She will provide another update at the December meeting. 3. Work First Employment Efforts Sharron Hinton reminded the Board that the Work First program helps meet employment needs of clients with children. In an effort to expand the employment program, Robert Gilmore works with a variety of businesses to assist residents with employment. He established a partnership with the Staffing Alliance and has gotten more the 35 people hired in the last few weeks. Staff hope to continue this partnership to match more individuals with employers who are ready to hire. 4. Holiday Update Sharron Hinton informed the Board that the Toy Chest is scheduled for December 14-17th. There are 222 children or adults that have been sponsored thus far. There are 41 children and 32 adults MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES November 18, 2013 3 who still need sponsors. Toy collection boxes are currently being distributed throughout the community. There are three UNC women’s basketball games doing Toys for Tots collections, November 21st, November 24th and December 4th. Mark Dorosin asked whether individuals in the community can sponsor children. Ms. Hinton responded that most of the sponsors are individuals, however some companies or churches take groups of children to sponsor. Pat Garavaglia asked whether there was a Chapel Hill contact for the sponsors. Ms. Hinton replied that Serena McPherson is the contact for both locations. Ms. Garavaglia asked for the logistics for the UNC Men’s Basketball Game. Ms. Hinton responded that the plans are not yet finalized and staff will be meeting with the Athletic Department in the next few weeks. 5. Director’s Report Pat Garavalia reminded everyone about the North Carolina Central University Alumni holiday event coming up on December 7th at Mount Bright Baptist Church. She also noted that former board member Valerie Foushee is holding a town hall meeting tonight at OWASA to get feedback from constituents in her new role as representative. Nancy Coston informed the Board that she will be off for two days around Thanksgiving but will be here over the Christmas Holidays. Staff attended a national conference on youth employment issues and are working to incorporate some of those ideas into the new youth employment program. Mark Dorosin noted that he read an article about funds for adoption and was interested in hearing more. Ms. Coston responded that she was disappointed in the article because it did not focus on the positive things occurring in North Carolina, which is a nationwide leader in child welfare. A private adoption agency received the funds, so there is not a role in this program for social services. Mr. Dorosin added that the article seemed politically motivated. Ms. Coston offered to bring agency child welfare data to a future meeting. VII. Announcements The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 16, 2013 at the Hillsborough Commons, 113 Mayo Street, Hillsborough, North Carolina at 4:00 pm. Claire Millar moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:01pm. Arthrell Sanders seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. Submitted by Nancy Coston Director Pat Garavaglia Chair