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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSS Board Minutes 072511MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES July 25, 2011 1 THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: July 25, 2011 at the Hillsborough Commons, Hillsborough, North Carolina. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Garavaglia, Chair; Valerie Foushee; and Albert Williams. GUEST: None. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBER ABSENT: Arthrell Sanders and Claire Millar. STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Director; Joyce Lee, Business Officer; and Lindsey Shewmaker, Human Services Manager. I. Call to Order and Introductions DSS Chair, Pat Garavaglia, called the meeting to order at 4:04 P.M. II. Board Comments Pat Garavaglia noted that the agency should begin working on plans for the 2011 holiday program. III. Public Comments None. IV. Agenda Changes None. V. Action Items On a motion by Valerie Foushee the Board approved the Minutes of June 20, 2011. Albert Williams seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision 1. Child Care Changes Nancy Coston informed the Board that the agency is sorting through several child care issues. The County is planning to close a building it owns in Cedar Grove. This includes a day care center that is located at the building. The center currently has more than twenty children enrolled, and is being given 18 months to relocate. Funds were being used to pay for transportation to this site. Funds from the Division of Child Development can no longer be used to pay for transportation. Pat Garavaglia asked whether the child care center could find space at Whitted. Valerie Foushee responded that there is an equity issue to providing free space for nonprofits. She added that she has concerns that it is an un-served community. Ms. Coston added that many of the children currently attending rely on the transportation provided. Ms. Coston noted that the agency and the Orange County Partnership for Young Children have been trying to figure out what Smart Start funds were being used for. It will take some time before all these issues are sorted out. There is a conference call being scheduled this week that will MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES July 25, 2011 2 include Child Care Services Association, Social Services, and the Orange County Partnership for Young Children. There is no Memorandum of Understanding yet with the Orange County Partnership for Young Children as to the policies and priority groups, and payments cannot be made until this is completed. 2. Emergency Assistance/Family Self-Sufficiency Services Nancy Coston reminded the Board that they altered the policy about these funds to target families with children and elderly and/or disabled adults. The staffing for these funds is changing. Robert Gilmore, the Work First Supervisor, and Renee Bynum, the Adult Services Supervisor, will be managing the funds, and social workers will work with families around employment and financial counseling. UNC Department of Public Health has been collecting fans and donating them to the agency. Staff have been attending meetings with Emergency Services regarding the heat wave, but there are no further plans at this point. 3. Director’s Report Nancy Coston is President of the North Carolina Association of County Directors of Social Services (NCACDSS). The annual meeting for the NCACDSS is this week. The Social Services Institute will be held on October 26th-28th in Hickory. Orange Enterprises will be distributing Food Bank food. FRIENDS of DSS will be paying Orange Enterprises to accept, sort, and distribute the food. 4. Executive Session On a motion by Valerie Foushee, the Board moved into Executive Session pursuant to §143-318.11(a)(6). Albert Williams seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. VII. Announcements The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 15, 2011 at the Hillsborough Commons, Mayo Street, Hillsborough, North Carolina at 4pm. On a motion by Albert Williams and seconded by Valerie Foushee, the Board adjourned their regular meeting at 5:02 P.M. Submitted by Nancy Coston Director Pat Garavaglia Chair NC/PG __________________________ Approval Date