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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5-17-2021 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES May 17,2021 THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: May 17, 2021 virtually. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Tamara Dempsey-Tanner, Pat Garavaglia, Earl McKee and Jane Garrett. GUEST: None. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Director; Lindsey Shewmaker, Human Services Manager; Sharron Hinton, Human Services Program Manager; Crystal Mitchell, Human Services Program Manager; and Brittany Mann, Child Welfare Program Manager. I. Call to Order and Introductions DSS Chair, Tamara Dempsey-Tanner, called the meeting to order at 4:04 pm. II. Board Comments Pat Garavaglia informed the Board that Friends of DSS received a grant for $25,000 from the Oakleaf Foundation for a program called Dress to Impress. This will allow clients working with Social Services to receive a gift card of$250 to Kohl's to purchase work clothing. Ms. Garavaglia also mentioned a situation she heard from someone at Legal Aid in which a client in Warren County had been evicted even after receiving funds for rental assistance through a COVID program and wondered if this was happening in Orange County. Nancy Coston responded that Orange County has several programs for rental assistance and eviction diversion as well as the Department of Human Rights which helps litigate fair housing issues. Ms. Garavaglia asked when the Board might be able to meet in person. Ms. Coston responded that all the current protocols for the county are still currently in place, including mask requirements. Tamara Dempsey-Tanner noted that she attended the Town Hall last week in Orange County on behavioral health. Several management staff from Alliance attended and answered questions about the transition from Cardinal. III. Public Comments None. IV. Agenda Changes None. V. Action Items On a motion by Pat Garavaglia, the Board approved the minutes of April 2021. Jane Garrett seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. I MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES May 17,2021 VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision 1. Budget Update Nancy Coston updated the Board on the Social Services budget. All outside agencies were funded via the budget process, some using one-time recovery funding. Extra funds were given to non- profits engaged in human services using these recovery funds. Human services will be discussed via work session on May 27tn 2. Medicaid Audit Lindsey Shewmaker updated the Board on month one of the REDA audit. Orange County achieved 100% accuracy in negative eligibility and internal controls, and 90% accuracy in active eligibility. The goal for active eligibility is 96.8%. Overall month one went well and staff will continue to provide updates through the remainder of the audit cycle. 3. Child Welfare Pandemic Services Report Crystal 4. Employment Services and Food Distribution Update Sharron Hinton has been in communication with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and the Town of Carrboro to determine the best ways to continue to support community feeding efforts. The current plan is to partner with the Town of Carrboro to continue to support their monthly distribution. Other feeding partners across the county continue to work with the food bank. The food pantry in Chapel Hill at Southern Human Services is still in progress and should be up and running soon. Staff contacted thousands of Food and Nutrition Services recipients to offer services through the Food and Nutrition Services Employment and Training program. More than 300 referrals have been made thus far and 88 new clients have been enrolled in the program. Several local employers have reached out for recruitment help and staff are working on setting up options for outdoor recruitment events that may include a vaccine clinic and other services. 5. Director's Report Nancy Coston added that she continues to work on the transition from Cardinal to Alliance for mental health services. There are a few pieces of legislation that are potentially concerning that the Social Services Director's Association is monitoring. The new indoor playground at Hillsborough Commons should be installed soon. VII. Announcements Tamara Dempsey-Tanner moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:16 pm. Pat Garavaglia seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. Submitted by: 2 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES May 17,2021 Nancy Coston, DSS Director Tamara Dempsey-Tanner, Chair 3