HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSS Board minutes 102019MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES
October 7 , 2019
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THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: October 7, 2019 at the
Hillsborough Commons, Hillsborough, North Carolina.
BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Tamara Dempsey-Tanner, Pat Garavaglia, Ann
Wilkerson, and Jamezetta Bedford.
GUEST: None.
BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS ABSENT: Susie Enoch.
STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Director; Sharron Hinton, Human Services Manager; Lindsey Shewmaker,
Human Services Manager ; and Crystal Mitchell, Human Services Manager.
I. Call to Order and Introductions
DSS Chair, Tamara Dempsey-Tanner , called the meeting to order at 4:05 pm.
II. Board Comments
None.
III. Public Comments
None.
IV. Agenda Changes
None.
V. Action Items
On a motion by Pat Garavaglia, the Board approved the minutes of September 2019. Anne Wilkerson
seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent.
VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision
1. Building Update
Nancy Coston updated the Board on the current building plan. The warehouse will not be emptied
prior to the holidays but it will need to be cleaned out and closed off after the holidays are over.
The children’s playground in the large atrium has been torn down. Some of the larger, more
expensive pieces were kept and will be cleaned. Several offices have been sealed off. In the
meantime there are issues at the Skills Development Center and several areas have been sealed
off there due to environmental findings related to leaks and an HVAC failure. More testing is slated
to occur.
2. Child Care Funding
Nancy Cos ton informed the Board that there is a waiting list for child care subsidy funding. The
County Manager has asked for an update to the Board of County Commissioners. There are
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES
October 7 , 2019
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currently 130 children on the waiting list and it will take all state and county dollars currently
allocated to continue to serve the 756 children currently receiving services each month. To
eliminate the waiting list and keep a new one from forming would cost the county approximately
$360,000 of additional funding for the remainder of the year. Staff continue to add children referred
from child welfare and Work First. The Food and Nutrition Employment and Training Program can
pay 50% of the costs of care for families in that program and staff are still enrolling those children.
Jamezetta Bedford asks how the Orange County Partnership for Young Children and their funds
relate to these DSS programs. Ms. Coston responded that Orange County DSS applies to
administer Smart Start funds for the county each year. DSS also receives federal child care funds
allocated through a state funding formula. DSS is currently administering over $6 million in child
care subsidy funds.
3. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employee Initiative
The County is doing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training for employees. Department Heads
have already gone through two days of training. Orange County is also working with the
Government Alliance on Racial Equity (GARE) on racial equity with an outward facing lens. Staff
showed a video the county is using to introduce the topic.
Anne Wilkerson asked who was conducting the training. Nancy Coston responded that the
company is called Visions, Inc.
Ms. Wilkerson asked whether it is open to Boards. Ms. Coston responded that GARE will be
reaching out to Boards but Visions, Inc. is contracted to work with staff.
Jamezetta Bedford noted that she would bring up the possibility of training at the Commissioners’
retreat. Diversity of boards has come up as a recent topic at a work session as well.
Ms. Wilkerson asked whether there have been staff complaints about diversity or discrimination.
Ms. Coston responded that there have been some but none that have been substantiated.
4. Directors Report
The agency held its biannual job fair last Wednesday, October 2nd at University Place in Chapel Hill.
Staff are negotiating with UNC about a basketball game. UNC has provided a few options, the best
of which is probably the Ohio State game on December 4th. Sharron Hinton will send out a calendar
with all the dates and times for various events.
VII. Announcements
Tamara Dempsey-Tanner moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:10 pm . Jamezetta Bedford seconded the motion.
The motion was carried without dissent.
Submitted by:
Nancy Coston, DSS Director
Tamara Dempsey-Tanner , Chair