HomeMy WebLinkAbout6-15-2020 MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES
June 15,2020
THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: June 15, 2020 virtually.
BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Tamara Dempsey-Tanner, Pat Garavaglia, Susie
Enoch, and Jamezetta Bedford.
GUEST: None.
BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS ABSENT: Ann Wilkerson.
STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Director; Sharron Hinton, Human Services Manager; Lindsey Shewmaker,
Human Services Manager.
I. Call to Order and Introductions
DSS Chair, Tamara Dempsey-Tanner, called the meeting to order at 4:03 pm.
II. Board Comments
Jamezetta noted that tomorrow night the Board of County Commissioners will adopt the county budget.
There are no increases for staff and the budget is largely flat.
III. Public Comments
None.
IV. Agenda Changes
None.
V. Action Items
On a motion by Pat Garavaglia, the Board approved the minutes of May 2020. Jamezetta Bedford
seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent.
VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision
1. COVID-19 Recovery Operations
Lindsey Shewmaker updated the Board on the transition from response to recovery. The contract
with IFC and vendor relationships related to decongregation of the homeless shelter was
transferred to the Housing Department last week. Mass feeding efforts are also shifting to build up
nonprofit and community partners so they can meet the needs of the community and DSS can
focus on a few distributions and continue to support vulnerable populations.
2. Program Updates
Nancy Coston updated the Board on child welfare changes. Court has started again for
permanency hearings and other child welfare related actions. Some of the court hearings have
been hard to follow using WebEx and the courts are looking at modifications to improve the
experience.
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MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES
June 15,2020
Adult services have not started routine visits back up. Social workers continue to make contacts
and are concerned about people experiencing isolation.
Staff are still serving people needing child care and DSS has been able to provide services to
everyone who has qualified. There will likely be an uptick this summer with the cancellation of most
camps.
Sharron Hinton updated the Board on the expected influx of people needing employment services.
The large conference room at Southern Human Services has been set up with four interview
stations with significant distance between. Clients will have access to a computer lab with a staff
member being able to remotely assist. There will be clear traffic flow with an identified entrance
and exit. Staff will be onsite starting June 29, 2020.
There were seven graduates in the Adolescent Parenting Program this year.
Lindsey Shewmaker explained that things are mostly unchanged in public assistance although we
are starting to see more people coming in person to apply or make changes. Many of the waivers
related to face-to-face interviews and extending certifications have to be renewed and it is unknown
how much longer the federal government will allow those renewals. Families have started receiving
P-EBT benefits and staff are working on getting returned mail back out and addresses changed
when needed. Staff have also started working on plans in the event more people begin coming to
the agency which could include installation of plexiglass or other safety measures.
3. Board Member Vacancy
Lindsey Shewmaker explained the process to reappoint Pat Garavaglia and fill the upcoming
vacancy on the DSS Board that was held by Ann Wilkerson.
4. Director's Report
Staff continue to work on the move of the Skills Development Center both to Europa as an interim
plan and to Carrboro.
Annette Moore and Nancy Coston are the co-chairs for the Government Alliance on Racial Equity
(CARE) and are working on issues around social justice and racial equity in Orange County.
The Memorandum of Understanding for next year between the State and the County has been put
off for six months due to data issues and COVID-19.
VII. Announcements
Pat Garavaglia moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:17 pm. Susie Enoch seconded the motion. The motion was
carried without dissent.
Submitted by:
Nancy Coston, DSS Director
Tamara Dempsey-Tanner, Chair
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