HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-18-2005-5gORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 18, 2005
Action Agenda
Item No.
SUBJECT: Authorize Expansion of Contract far Social Work Services Between Orange
County Schools and Orange County Department of Social Services
DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proposed Revised Contract Nancy Coston, 245-2802
PURPOSE: To amend the current contract between the Orange County Schools and Orange
County to expand the number of Department of Social Services social work positions from four
to seven in the schools and to approve three new sacial work positions and one new social work
position to be funded through the contract.
.BACKGROUND: Last year, the Orange County School system identified a need far additional
social workers to expand services to at-risk students within the district. To address that need, in
October 2004, Commissioners authorized the creation of four County Social Worker positions to
provide these services for the Orange County Schools. While these positions are employees of
the County, Medicaid reimbursements along with a contribution from the Orange County
Schools cover 100 percent of their costs. Recently the Orange County School System
identified a need to amend the existing contract and increase the number of positions to a total
of seven positions. The seven staff from Social Services in addition to the existing school
personnel would provide one position for each school.
The Department of Social Services is eligible to receive federal Medicaid funding through the
At-Risk Case Management program by meeting certain criteria - (1) local department of social
services staff, not employees of the school district, must provide the services for at risk children
and families and (2) a local funding match must cover a portion of the positions cost.
Therefore, it is necessary for the local social services department to provide the services
through a contractual arrangement.
In accordance with the contract, the sacial workers serve at risk children. Services provided
include identification of family, economic and social issues impacting the ability of students to
have successful academic outcomes, provision of counseling to children and families with
certain risk factors, and provision of other supportive services to address the identified
problems. The provision of these services for the School system fits well with the Department
of Social Services' mission of preventing child abuse and neglect and promoting self-sufficiency
and family well-being.
To date, the contractual arrangement has been an effective way to serve children and their
families in a manner that promotes interagency cooperation, Feedback from both agencies has
been positive, and the service meets the goals of each agency. In addition, this arrangement
furthers the Commissioners on-going interest in collaborative initiatives between the County and
school districts,
FINANCIAL IMPACT: As mentioned in the Background section above, offsetting Medicaid
reimbursements and School district contributions cover all costs associated with the positions
including supervision. School staff has confirmed that the district's current budget for this
initiative includes $169,200 to cover the existing contract and $83,900 to cover the cost of
contract expansion. There are no County funds associated with the approval of the contract, In
addition, the school system will provide office space in individual schools throughout the district
for the positions, Continuation of the positions is contingent on the existence of this contract
and continued non-county funding, Orange County Schools also recognizes that this pass-
through, contractual arrangement does not represent an increase in their continuing budget as
far as state prescribed per pupil funding is concerned.
Cost to expand the contract effective December 2005:
Annual Position Annual One Time Start- Offsetting 2005-06 Net
Costs Operating Costs Up Costs Revenue Position and
Sala /Benefits Start-U Costs
$194,208 $7000 $10,807 $211,295" $0
* Medicaid and Orange County School funds
Should the Board approve the request to amend the contract effective December 2005, Budget
staff will prepare a corresponding budget amendment for a future Commissioners meeting to
allow far the receipt of additional finds to cover the cost of the additional positions.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1. Approve the expansion of this contract effective December 1, 2005 and authorize the
Chair to sign the contract subject to final review by staff and the County Attorney; and
2, Effective December 1, 2005, authorize creation of three new permanent full time
equivalent social worker positions and one permanent full time equivalent supervisor to
be funded through the contract and contingent on the continuation of the contract
funding with non-County dollars.
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF ORANGE
AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM
AND
THE ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this the 18th day of October 2005, by and
between THE ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM (hereinafter referred to as Orange County
Schools, and ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, (hereinafter referred
to as DSS)..
W ITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the parties have agreed with each other that DSS will provide certain
services for Orange County Schools; and
WHEREAS, Orange County Schools have agreed to pay certain compensation for said
service and the parties desire to execute this contract to delineate their understanding of this
agreement;
WHEREAS, DSS is authorized by the State Division of Medical Assistance to provide
case management services to Medicaid eligible children at risk of abuse of neglect and is eligible
for certain Medicaid reimbursement for the costs of providing this service; and
WHEREAS, many of the children served by Orange County Schools are Medicaid eligible;
and
WHEREAS, Orange County Schools is committed to providing preventive social work
services to its students; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. DSS agrees to provide seven social work staff to provide services exclusively to
referrals of the Orange Oounty schools.
2. Orange County Schools agrees to reimburse DSS within 15 days of receipt of
monthly billings for the county share of the salary, benefits, and all indirect costs
(including travel) of the social work staff assigned to the Orange County Schools,
3 Other supportive services provided by DSS without additional charge to Orange
County Schools include continuing program training of social workers, program
supervision, verification of Medicaid eligibility, and Medicaid billing and
reconciliation.
4. Other supportive services provided by Orange County Schools without charge to
OCDSS include: office space, parking space, office equipment, clerical support,
and telephone service,
5, Orange County Schools and DSS will work together to develop procedures for
referral and service provision for students at the schools,
6, As employees of the County, the social workers shall be directly supervised by
and accountable to OCDSS. Due to the nature of this agreement, a close
working relationship between the two organizations is essential. To facilitate this
relationship, Orange County Schools and DSS will establish liaisons to provide
coordination and oversight. Assignment of work to the social workers and
coordination of sick, vacation, and other leave will be the joint responsibility of the
liaisons.
7. Orange County Schools shall participate in the interviewing and selection process
utilized by DSS for the hiring of the social workers covered by this agreement, in
accordance with Orange County policy and procedures,.
S. Both the DSS and Orange County Schools agree and understand that if at any
time Orange County Schools determines that a social worker's performance or
professional interactions are inadequate or inappropriate, Orange County Schools
may request that OCDSS initiate appropriate action to correct that employee's
deficiencies, or to dismiss that employee if indicated, Any disciplinary action shall
be pursued in compliance with the Orange County Personnel ordinance and
Orange County Schools shall provide sufficient documentation to support that
action,
9, This Agreement shall be effective from November t, 2004 to June 30, 2005.
10. This Agreement shall be reviewed at (east annually, prior to July 1st and may be
terminated by either party upon 60 days written notice, This contract may be
terminated within 30 days if sufficient funds are not available to pay the costs of
the positions,
1 1, The Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties and shall not be
altered, amended or modified, except by an agreement in writing executed by the
duly authorized officials of both parties..
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this contract to be signed by
its duly authorized officials.
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF: FOR AND ON BEHALF OF:
ORANGE COUNTY. NORTH CAROLINA ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOLS
Chair, Orange County Board
of Commissioners
Attest:
Clerk of the Orange County
Board of Commissioners
This instrument has been preaudited in the manner required by the Local Government
Budget and Fiscal Control Act.
Ken Chavious, Orange County Finance Officer