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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3-21-2022 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES March 21,2022 THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON TUESDAY: March 21, 2022 virtually BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Garavaglia, Oscar Fleming, Jamezetta Bedford, and Ann Wilkerson GUEST: None BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS ABSENT: Jane Garrett STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Director; Sharron Hinton, Human Services Manager; Crystal Mitchell, Human Services Manager; Brittany Mann, Social Work Program Manager I. Call to Order and Introductions DSS Chair, Pat Garavaglia, called the meeting to order at 4:01 pm. II. Board Comments None. III. Public Comments None. IV. Agenda Changes Pat Garavaglia added Staff Appreciation. V. Action Items On a motion by Jamezetta Bedford, the Board approved the minutes of February 21, 2022. Ann Wilkerson seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision 1. Staff Appreciation March is Staff Appreciation month at the agency. There will be a staff appreciation lunch held on Friday, March 25 from 12-2pm. Board members will hand out box lunches to staff. Names will be chosen randomly via a virtual spin wheel for prizes following the lunch. 2. Child Care Subsidy Tina Clark, Child Care Services Supervisor, presented on the childcare subsidy program. Ms. Clark explained eligibility criteria to include working parents, parents in school, CPS involved families, Adolescent Parenting Program families, and families with children experiencing developmental delays. There is an income scale to be eligible. Depending on income, a parent pays a fee and DSS pays the balance. Each year the childcare subsidy program has an annual budget of$5-6M, which includes a combination of federal, state, and county funds. County funds are used to leverage state and federal funds in order to serve the most children possible annually. County funds offer flexibility to also assist families who are searching for employment. OCDSS identifies priority groups as teen parents, CPS involved families, and Work First. These families do not pay parent fees. Currently, 1 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES March 21,2022 the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is paying parent fees through June 2022. Ms. Clark explained once her staff receive a call from a parent inquiring about subsidy assistance, the process is started within 5-7 business days. There is currently no waiting list. The longest wait list DSS has maintained in the past two years has been limited to 2-3 months. Jamezetta Bedford asked if there are enough spaces at daycare centers. Ms. Clark stated there are and we are also able to use daycares located in other counties. Commissioner Bedford also asked if the subsidy can cover Pre-K slots. Ms. Clark advised subsidy can cover extended time for Pre-K children. 3. Youth Enhancement Funds (YEF) Sharron Hinton, Human Services Program Manager, provided an overview of YEF funds. She informed the Board we have seen an increase in YEF requests. She explained these funds can be used to cover a variety of activities to include sports and classes such as arts & crafts. There are income guidelines to qualify. Ms. Hinton explained we have reached out to social workers in the school systems to help us promote use of these funds. Nancy Coston, Director, remarked we are also partnering with Family Success Alliance to reach families who can benefit from this resource. Ann Wilkerson asked if there is a specific time frame to use these funds. Ms. Hinton explained these funds are available throughout the year. 4. Outside Agency Update Pat Garavaglia, Board Chair, shared she and Oscar Fleming reviewed a total of 15 outside agency applications. Ms. Garavaglia commented it would be good to be in a meeting with the agencies to ask questions before scoring their applications. Mr. Fleming offered the process could be improved with some minor changes such as definition clarity. Nancy Coston stated she and Sharron Hinton met with the agencies and the County Manager. She shared there is an interest in allowing Board Members to be a part of this process next year. Ms. Coston further stated the County is open to feedback about the process. Mr. Fleming asked where things stand with decision- making. Ms. Coston explained the decision is with the County Manager and will be a part of her recommended budget to the Board of County Commissioners in early May. 5. Director's Report Nancy Coston informed the Board the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted to move forward with the 203 South Greensboro building. In other building updates, Southern Human Services Center (SHSC) will undergo construction to replace the heating and air unit. Ms. Coston stated the work will occur in two 14 week phases for a total 28 week project. This will require DSS staff located at SHSC to be relocated. The intention is to develop a plan, which would allow the Economic Services Intake unit to remain at SHSC in order to minimize disruption to service access. There is planning needed to determine where child welfare staff will relocate. Ms. Coston will present the DSS budget this week to the County Manager. There are two funding streams we have learned of after initial budget development, which will be added. This includes 100% funding for Food and Nutrition Services time-limited positions and ARPA money for Adult Services. 2 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES March 21,2022 North Carolina has been recognized nationally for the state's work and roll out of the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). Ms. Coston will email a link to the You Tube video for the Board to view. 6. Executive Session Oscar Fleming made a motion to enter executive session pursuant to GS§ 143-318.11(a)(1) referencing GS§ 7B-2901; Jamezetta Bedford seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. Ann Wilkerson made a motion to exit executive session; Oscar Fleming seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. VII. Announcements Ann Wilkerson moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:23 pm. Jamezetta Bedford seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. Submitted by: Nancy Coston, DSS Director Pat Garavaglia, Chair 3