HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-17-2003-8oORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 17, 2003
Action Agenda
Item No. ~_
SUBJECT: Contracts for Adolescent Parenting Services
DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nancy Coston 968-2000
Contracts (Under Separate Cover) Gwen Price ext 2800
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough
Chapel Hill
Durham
Mebane
732-8181
968-4501
688-7331
336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider approval to contract with each school system to provide specialized
services to pregnant and parenting teens.
BACKGROUND: One of the main goals outlined in the federal welfare reform legislation is to
support teen parents and to avoid additional unplanned pregnancies. Therefore, federal funds
in the Work First Block Grant can be used for this purpose.
The goals of this program are to improve parenting skills, assure that participants complete their
education and delay second pregnancies. The ultimate goals are to help teens prepare to be
self-sufficient and to prevent them from becoming dependent on public assistance. Teen
parents are at high risk for becoming dependent on public assistance, particularly if they drop
out of school. These contracts will be coordinated with the programs at the Department of
Social Services, which have been very effective at helping participants to finish high school and
to delay additional pregnancies. In Fiscal Year 2002-2003, sixteen teen parents were served by
Orange County Schools and fourteen were served by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.
Teen parents have been identified in each school system for services next year and there is
sufficient need to justify afull-time social worker in each system. The contracts are based on a
caseload of 12-18 teen parents for each social worker in the school system. The social workers
will provide individual and group interventions with teens and will try to address issues that
might result in the student dropping out of school. Supportive services (such as housing,
transportation, day care, medical care) may also be arranged by the social workers. The social
workers at the school work with the other school personnel to meet the academic needs of
pregnant or parenting students.
The Social Services Board has reviewed these contracts and recommends approving $39,682
for Orange County Schools and $45,000 for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools for Fiscal Year
2003-2004. The costs for each system are based on the actual salary and related cost of the
person in the school system who will provide these services and varies based on longevity and
other differences. The systems will be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: These costs will be paid from federal funds in the County Work First
Block Grant.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board accept the Social
Services Board recommendation and approve the contracts with the two schools systems.