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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7-31-2023MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES July 31, 2023 1 THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON TUESDAY: July 31, 2023 at Hillsborough Commons. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Jane Garrett, Pat Garavaglia, Ann Wilkerson, and Jamezetta Bedford. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS ABSENT: Oscar Fleming STAFF PRESENT: Lindsey Shewmaker, Human Services Manager; Crystal Mitchell, Human Services Manager; Sharron Hinton, Human Services Manager, and Rebekah Rapoza, Fiscal Operations Manager. I. Call to Order and Introductions DSS Chair, Pat Garavaglia, called the meeting to order at 4:02 pm. II. Board Comments None. III. Public Comments None. IV. Agenda Changes None. V. Action Items On a motion by Jamezetta Bedford, the Board approved the minutes of June 20, 2023. Pat Garavaglia seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision 1. Quarterly Data Presentation Lindsey Shewmaker presented Quarterly Data for some DSS programs. The data covered point in time numbers for June 2023, as well as historical averages of the past four fiscal years. Ms. Shewmaker explained we are starting with a few programs and will add more program data as we move forward. The presentation covered data for the following programs: Food and Nutrition Services, Medicaid, CPS reports, Foster Care, Child Care Subsidy, APS reports, and Adult Guardianship. With the economic services programs, it was noted the impact the unwinding of the COVID rules has had on number of participants. This is also a trend statewide as well as nationally. Ms. Shewmaker noted we think a lot of Medicaid recepients are still eligible but they have not responded to mailings. FNS: June 2023 data 5,834 cases with 10,657 participants. Medicaid: 21,639 participants; significant decrease between May and June; seeing this statewide and nationally. Due to unwinding of COVID rules. We think a lot of these families are still eligible and just aren’t responding to mailings. Other noteworthy data includes an increase in the number of children in OCDSS custody compared to the past fiscal years as well as the number of APS reports MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES July 31, 2023 2 increasing over the past four fiscal years. Additionally, we have not rebounded to our pre-COVID numbers of children receiving childcare subsidy. This is an area where we continue to prioritize outreach in the community. Pat Garavaglia noted the data was compact and meaningful; she complimented the data analytics team on a job well done. 2. Medicaid Update Lindsey Shewmaker shared North Carolina is expecting to go-live for Medicaid Expansion on October 1, 2023. The state budget has to be passed by September for an October roll-out. Ms. Shewmaker stated we have been able to recruit and hire staff for Medicaid Expansion. Specifically, we have hired three specialists and one tech position. We are still expecting over 6,000 new Medicaid enrollees. Ms. Shewmaker provided the Board with talking points released by the State for Medicaid Expansion. She recapped some of the highlights in regards to eligibility and services covered. Eventually the expectation is the Marketplace will accept applications which will take some workload burden off our staff. This will occur at the soonest, in early 2024. Ms. Shewmaker shared we are working hard to not terminate anyone from Medicaid enrollment due to procedural reasons. She explained ex-parte reviews can occur if we can validate income through databases we can access. Board Chair, Pat Garavaglia, asked, what happens if they don’t come up with a budget? Lindsey Shewmaker stated it would push the next go-live timeline to 12/1/23. Ms. Shewmaker shared the Social Services Institute is this week and some of our Medicaid staff are going to attend workshops and collaborate with State Medicaid Staff. 3. Single County Audit Rebekah Rapoza explained the County is in the midst of the Single County Audit. DSS programs are selected every two to three years for review. Ms. Rapoza shared the programs selected for audit this year include: the DSS Cross-Cutting 1571 report we submit to the State, Medicaid (looking at staff cost and client cases), and Food and Nutrition Services (staff costs). Foster Care and Adoption are two other program areas that will be pulled in if needed. Ms. Rapoza explained auditors were on site two weeks ago to meet with our staff to go through some cases. In August, they will return for their second sample. We had a finding last year in regards to Daysheet/Kronos reconciliation. This will be included to review how we are doing with the plan we implemented. 4. Director’s Report Lindsey Shewmaker stated the County has moved to Microsoft 365. Starting in September, our virtual platform will be Microsoft Teams instead of Zoom. Sharron Hinton shared Toy Chest will be December 7-9, 2023. Planning is starting earlier this year. Ms. Hinton also shared we have two upcoming hiring events. UPS will be on site on Wednesday, 8/2 at Hillsborough Orange Works and on Thursday, 8/3 at the Career Center in Chapel Hill. There will also be a temp agency hiring event on Friday, 8/4 in Chapel Hill. Jane Garrett asked about the Job Fair that was held in May 2023. Sharron Hinton reported a good turnout. MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES July 31, 2023 3 Jamezetta Bedford asked if there has been any targeted recruitment or assistance to the Mediterranean Deli employees who lost employment due to the restaurant fire. Sharron Hinton explained our Career Center Manager, Caraina Edwards, is actively participating in meetings to meet the needs of the restaurant and their employees. Crystal Mitchell stated the Permanency Values training was held in person for our child welfare staff and community stakeholders in June. This training was offered virtually on July 25, 2023. This training was designed as a kick off to DSS starting to use the Permanency Roundtable program. DSS will hold our first three Permanency Roundtables in August. Ms. Mitchell explained Permanency Roundtables are targeted toward foster care youth who have been in DSS custody longer than 24 months. The goal is to brainstorm permanency options for youth other than aging out of foster care. Jamezetta Bedford shared she attended the in-person Permanency Values training and enjoyed the content. Lindsey Shewmaker provided an update on the board seat held by Pat Garavaglia. Chair Garavaglia’s position is appointed by the Social Services commission. Ms. Shewmaker shared Chairwoman Garavaglia has two applicants to reach out to. We would like to have a pool of three to four applicants to choose between before selecting a member. Ms. Shewmaker reminded board members that they need to elect a chair and vice chair annually. This will be on the agenda in August. VII. Announcements Pat Garavaglia moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:41 pm. Jane Garrett seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. Submitted by: Nancy Coston, DSS Director Pat Garavaglia, Chair