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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSS Board minutes 052112MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES May 21, 2012 1 THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: May 21, 2012 at the Hillsborough Commons, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Garavaglia, Chair; Arthrell Sanders; Valerie Foushee; Claire Millar; and Albert Williams. GUEST: None. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBER ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Director; Denise Shaffer, Assistant Director; Lindsey Shewmaker, Human Services Manager; Joyce Lee, Business Officer; Tina Clark, Social Work Supervisor; and Sharron Hinton, Community Services Manager. I. Call to Order and Introductions DSS Chair, Pat Garavaglia, called the meeting to order at 4:06 P.M. II. Board Comments Pat Garavaglia noted that the Adolescent Parenting Program and Foster Parent Appreciation receptions are at the same time and asked whether that would be a problem. Nancy Coston responded that both events will be held in the building but at different locations. III. Public Comments None. IV. Agenda Changes Claire Millar added Food Distribution to the agenda. Nancy Coston added Grants Update to the agenda. V. Action Items On a motion by Valerie Foushee the Board approved the Minutes of April 16, 2012. Claire Millar seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision 1. Food Distribution Claire Millar asked whether the new food distribution system was working. Nancy Coston responded that it seems to be going well. Ms. Millar noted that PORCH is making a renewed effort to organize in Hillsborough. She wanted to make sure that the food going to OCIM was helpful for Social Services. Ms. Coston responded that it was working well. Ms. Millar also gave information about how to participate in PORCH for interested neighborhoods. 2. Transportation Update Lindsey Shewmaker updated the Board on changes with Medicaid transportation. Effective June 1, MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES May 21, 2012 2 2012, the agency will begin taking all calls for Medicaid transportation scheduling. Staff will work with clients to get information needed to complete the state mandated log. The agency is also expanding other transportation options including vouchers and mileage reimbursement. Nancy Coston added that she spoke with Rebecca Troutman today about Medicaid transportation changes. Ms. Troutman was advocating for departments of social services to continue to work with local transportation agencies to meet Medicaid requirements. 3. Child Care Spending Report Tina Clark updated the Board about what is currently happening in child care subsidy. The waiting list for child care subsidy that was over 650 children is clear and the agency is currently determining eligibility for clients walking in the door. Many families who recently received child care subsidy were very excited to have help paying for care. Nancy Coston gave out copies of the agency response to the letter sent to the Board of County Commissioners by a few Orange County child care providers. Claire Millar asked whether the child care providers responded. Ms. Coston replied that the agency prepared the response for county management to share with the Board of County Commissioners. Valerie Foushee added that the Board of County Commissioners also received a letter from Margaret Samuels, the Executive Director of the Orange County Partnership for Young Children. Ms. Clark noted that there are currently 802 children receiving subsidy. Ms. Coston added that there are so many children on subsidy now that the agency will likely be overspending based on the projections for next year’s allocation. A waiting list is likely to emerge. Ms. Coston explained that $200,000 in county funds will be used to fill some of the gap for next year. Albert Williams asked what it meant that the waiting list was cleared. Ms. Clark responded that families on the waiting list were either served, were no longer eligible or failed to respond when contacted by the agency. 4. Budget and Legislative Update Nancy Coston informed the Board that the budget recommended by the County Manager did not have any cuts for Social Services outside of the hiring freeze. The budget work session for Social Services is scheduled for June 7th. There is a proposed salary increase of 2% and a merit bonus of $500 or $1000. Ms. Coston added that there is still hope that the General Assembly will restore some funding for child welfare. Although Senate Bill 433 has not been heard yet, the same language has been rolled into a mental health governance bill. The health director’s association is advocating that the consolidated human services director have all the qualifications of a public health director. Pat Garavaglia noted that she received a response from Joe Hackney thanking her for her input. There is still lobbying going on in support of and against the bill. The bill also includes wording naming social services as the only public guardian. There are some questions about how to handle conflict of interest cases if this does not change. Ms. Coston shared the County Manager’s funding recommendations for outside agencies in his proposed budget. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES May 21, 2012 3 Ms. Garavaglia informed the Board that she plans to propose that the Town of Carrboro hold a dance at the Century Center as a fundraiser to benefit nonprofits that do not get county funds. 5. Emergency Solutions Grant Sharron Hinton gave out the 2011 annual report of the Orange County Partnership to end homelessness. One of the programs highlighted in the report is the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing program. This is a grant administered by the agency that is ending this year. There is a new grant that has some funding for similar services and there is some interest in Social Services applying for the grant. Orange County is only eligible to receive $18,000 in the current allocation structure. This is subject to change and there may be more funds available. The new focus of state and federal grants is on prevention and rapid rehousing instead of transitional housing. Inter-Faith Council (IFC) currently relies heavily on funding related to transitional housing. IFC will see a huge reduction in the type of funding it receives and staff members there are very concerned. Nancy Coston asked whether there were any concerns about the agency taking the lead on the grant. The Board had no questions or concerns. 6. Grants Update Denise Shaffer discussed the funding for the Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) for FY2012-13. Social Services uses HCCBG funds to provide in-home aide services. The agency is estimating that it will receive approximately $116,000. Other funds are appropriated to the Department on Aging and Orange Public Transportation for services related to seniors. There have been no major changes to the grant. Claire Millar moved that the Board approve the plan for funds received through the Home and Community Care Block Grant. Arthrell Sanders seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. Pat Garavaglia asked how the CIP program was going. Lindsey Shewmaker responded that there is still $300,000-$400,000 remaining. The state intentionally released additional funds with plans to reallocate for next year. Ms. Shaffer reported that a grant submitted in partnership with the Orange County Partnership for Young Children for a community response worker was funded. This position would attempt to stabilize families who no longer need child welfare services but who still have issues and reduce instances of recidivism. 7. Director’s Report Lois Harvin-Ravin has left the agency to take a similar position in Durham County. There are discussions under way about what will happen to Veteran’s Services in Orange County. The state received the three-year implementation grant for Work Support Strategies. Nancy Coston has been invited to the grant award ceremony. The Foster Parent Appreciation reception will be held on May 31st in the large atrium at 5:30 pm. The Adolescent Parenting Program Graduation will be held on May 31st at 6:00 pm in the large MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES May 21, 2012 4 conference room. Eric Montross called on Friday to start working on an event for Toys for Tots next year. There is a public hearing tomorrow and child care subsidy will likely be an issue. Nancy Coston and Tina Clark will be in attendance. Valerie Foushee responded that the Board of County Commissioners is committed to maintaining safety net services in Orange County. VII. Announcements The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 18, 2012 at the Hillsborough Commons, 113 Mayo Street, Hillsborough, North Carolina at 4 PM. On a motion by Claire Millar and seconded by Valerie Foushee, the Board adjourned their regular meeting at 5:33 pm. Submitted by Nancy Coston Director Pat Garavaglia Chair