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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2-20-2023 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES February 20,2023 THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: February 20, 2023 at Hillsborough Commons. BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Jane Garrett, Pat Garavaglia, Ann Wilkerson, and Jamezetta Bedford. GUEST: None BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS ABSENT: Oscar Fleming. STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Social Services Director; Lindsey Shewmaker, Human Services Manager; Sharron Hinton, Human Services Manager; Crystal Mitchell, Human Services Manager; and Rebekah Rapoza, Budget Officer. I. Call to Order and Introductions DSS Chair, Pat Garavaglia, called the meeting to order at 4:06 pm. II. Board Comments None. III. Public Comments None. IV. Agenda Changes None. V. Action Items On a motion by Ann Wilkerson, the Board approved the minutes of January 23, 2023. Jane Garrett seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision 1. Public Health Emergency Lindsey Shewmaker informed the Board she and DSS Director, Nancy Coston, are presenting updates on the Public Health Emergency (PHE) tomorrow night to the Board of County Commissioners. DSS is asking for three new time-limited positions and extending the current time- limited positions for assistance in meeting the anticipated need. DSS will further ask for $125,000 from the Social Justice Reserve Fund to provide food and additional resources to non-profits as well as for food gift cards. Lindsey Shewmaker presented on the current status of the PHE. In the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program emergency allotments, which began in March 2020, will end next month. The additional emergency allotment was $95.00 and this decrease will impact 6100 households in Orange County. Ann Wilkerson asked if recipients have been notified about this change. Ms. Shewmaker explained there have been press releases and mailings from the State. DSS has 1 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES February 20,2023 posted notices in the office lobbies. Jane Garrett asked if there were differences in the number of households receiving FNS pre-COVID to current. Ms. Shewmaker shared DSS saw a spike in the number of FNS cases during COVID. Ms. Shewmaker reported there will be a Food Security Summit on 3/2/23 and 3/3/23 hosted by State partners. DSS will attend this summit along with other local food partners. In regards to Medicaid, the PHE will be discontinued in May or a couple of months thereafter. All rules are being reapplied for Medicaid eligibility. DSS staff are responsible for evaluating cases every 12 months. There will be 22,000+ cases in Orange County needing evaluation by 5/31/24. Ms. Shewmaker pointed out the workload impacts due to the end of the PHE. 2. Budget Nancy Coston presented the proposed FY 2023-2024 DSS Budget. This year's budget is a $1,000,000 plus increase from last year. There are requests for nine new full-time employees in Economic Services and two new part-time positions in Child Welfare. All positions come with some revenue. Ms. Coston reviewed significant changes including the ending of ARPA funding which has assisted with childcare and food costs, Community Response Program revenue loss, leases for Gateway apartment and Family Time house rentals, and possible WIOA program changes with a total of$1.8 million in new positions and programs. DSS is responsible for$125,000,000 in funding that does not show in the County budget for FNS, Medicaid, energy programs, and childcare. Performance and workload measures were shared for various program areas. Crystal Mitchell shared an overview of child welfare with Nancy Coston commenting on the behavioral health impact with adults and children. Pat Garavaglia commented on the increase in Adult Protective Services reports. Ms. Coston stated she is monitoring staffing and utilizing contract for guardianship with adults. Lindsey Shewmaker provided an overview of Economic Services, Public Assistance, as well childcare subsidy. Ann Wilkerson asked if this is the first time North Carolina has opted into Medicaid expansion. Ms. Shewmaker explained Medicaid expansion was part of the Affordable Care Act but North Carolina has not opted in. This is the first time the State has been this far in discussion and many people are thinking it is going to happen. In regards to childcare subsidy data, Jane Garrett asked what is meant by unduplicated. Ms. Coston explained that is in reference to how many different children were served. Ms. Coston shared childcare rates in Orange County increased. Ann Wilkerson asked if energy funds are reimbursed. Ms. Coston shared they are 100% federal funds. Sharron Hinton provided an overview of Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC). She informed the Board this is pass through money that DSS receives from the State and gives to agencies in the community. Nancy Coston pointed out other areas in the budget book that Board members may want to review. Ms. Coston summarized she thinks there are some good things in our budget. For example, we are trying to help families normalize following the pandemic, the possibility of Medicaid expansion, and the work we are doing in our child welfare program. Ms. Coston did point out an area of concern is that DSS could possibly lose either the WIOA adult or youth program. She and Ms. Hinton are meeting with Capital Area Workforce on Monday. Jamezetta Bedford made a motion to adopt the DSS budget. Jane Garrett seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. Ms. Coston explained the budget will now go to the County 2 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES February 20,2023 Manager who will make her own recommendations on it. The final budget approval will occur in June. 3. Agency Staff Meeting The Staff meeting will occur on 3/3/23 at 10am with lunch following the meeting. The Board will provide staff with door prizes; staff do not need to be present to win. Pat Garavaglia shared Friends of DSS donated $2,000.00 for$25.00 gift cards. 4. Director's Report There will be a Community Health Fair on 4/11/23 in the DSS parking lot; this is in collaboration with the Health Department. The mammogram bus and other health related vendors will be on site. There will be a job fair on 4/19/23; more details are forthcoming. VII. Announcements Ann Wilkerson moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:22 pm. Jane Garrett seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. Submitted by: Nancy Coston, DSS Director Pat Garavaglia, Chair 3