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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSS Board minutes 082012MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES August 20, 2012 1 THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: August 20, 2012 at the Hillsborough Commons, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Garavaglia, Chair; Arthrell Sanders; Claire Millar; Valerie Foushee and Albert Williams. GUEST: None. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBER ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Director; Denise Shaffer, Assistant Director; Sharron Hinton, Human Services Manager; 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 4:04 P.M. II. Board Comments Valerie Foushee commented that she was glad to be here. III. Public Comments None. IV. Agenda Changes None. V. Action Items On a motion by Albert Williams the Board approved the Minutes of July 16, 2012. Claire Millar seconded the motion. Valerie Foushee abstained. The motion was carried without dissent. VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision 1. Presentation on Work Support Strategies Lindsey Shewmaker, Cathy Hill, and Terri Totherow presented work that staff in public assistance are doing as part of Work Support Strategies. Staff showed a PowerPoint presentation that was given in early August at the Department Directors meeting. It included a video filmed at the Orange County Department of Social Services that explained work support strategies. Board Members thanked staff for their hard work. Arthrell Sanders asked about the Romney political ad stating that President Obama was ending the work requirement for welfare. Nancy Coston replied that the ad is untrue. She explained that states have options that would allow them to apply for a waiver to allow subsidized employment and other types of job readiness training in place of work. This would address state’s needs for vocational rehabilitation services but does not remove any of the requirements for the program. 2. NC FAST Update MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES August 20, 2012 2 Lindsey Shewmaker updated the Board on the status of NC FAST. Staff members are getting caught up in their caseloads in Food and Nutrition Services. Other readiness activities are ongoing. The biggest barrier to being prepared for NC FAST is the resignation of Social Services’ Systems Analyst. Ms. Shewmaker explained that this vacancy could be very problematic for the agency moving forward. Valerie Foushee suggested that the Social Services Board write a letter advocating that the Systems Analyst be exempted from the hiring delay and remain at Social Services. Nancy Coston added that counties that are succeeding at NC FAST have dedicated IT support and have received approval from the Human Resources department to hire quickly for vacancies, pay overtime, and hire temporary personnel. 3. Emergency Solutions Grant Sharron Hinton updated the Board on the status of the Emergency Solutions Grant. The agency was asked to apply for the grant due to its success in the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Grant. The new grant is similar but will focus on rapid rehousing. The amount of the grant is significantly lower at approximately $18,000, but the agency hopes to receive more funds when they are reallocated. Funds should be available in September and will be used to serve approximately 12-20 people in 4-5 families. Families identified for the program will come from Project Homestart or Inter-Faith Council’s Homeless Shelter. 4. Community Resource Program Denise Shaffer updated the Board on the Community Resource Program grant co-written with the Orange County Partnership for Young Children. The grant targets families who do not have a finding with Child Protective Services but do have issues. The program would provide follow-up services with these families to work through the issues to prevent future reports for Child Protective services. The staff position needed to run this program will be employed as a time-limited position at Social Services. This position and the acceptance of grant funds are on the Board of County Commissioners agenda for tomorrow night. Nancy Coston added that the funds came in too late to make the budget. 5. Director’s Report The new president of the North Carolina Association of County Directors of Social Services has asked Nancy Coston to retain her role in Work Support Strategies and chair a committee on TANF funding. She is otherwise not as involved in the association. VII. Announcements The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 17, 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 5:06 pm. Submitted by Nancy Coston Director MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES August 20, 2012 3 Pat Garavaglia Chair