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9. Items for Decision--Regular Agenda b. Contract for Social Work Services Between Orange County Schools and Orange County Department of Social Services The Board considered a contract between the Orange County Schools and the Orange County Department of Social Services for the provision of four additional Department of Social Services positions to provide social work and case management services in the schools subject to final review by Staff and County Attorney. Social Services Director Nancy Coston said that they would like to work collaboratively with the Orange County Schools to help increase the number of social workers available. She spoke with both superintendents and the OCS were immediately interested in pursuing this. This item is a request to enter into a contract with the schools. This will help expand the number of social workers to help at-risk children and families. The employees would be on-site at the schools, and DSS would assist the schools with billing, etc. Any costs not covered by Medicaid would be billed to OCS, which they would pay with the funds that are already available to them. They think this will meet their mission of more preventative services and will not increase Orange County costs. OCS Superintendent Shirley Carraway said that this is a good opportunity for them and increases their capacity and maximizes their effort to be good stewards of the funds available. Commissioner Halkiotis said that Dr. Shirley Carraway has attended more Board of County Commissioners meetings in the short period of time that she has been here that all other superintendents ever did over a period of 30 years. A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Carey to approve a contract between the Orange County Schools and the Orange County Department of Social Services for the provision of four additional Department of Social Services positions to provide social work and case management services in the schools subject to final review by Staff and County Attorney. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Chair Jacobs said that the Board heard parents during the budget process identify this as an issue of concern. a. Request to Accept State Child Protective Services Funding for the Establishment of Two New Child Protective Services Social Worker Positions The Board considered accepting state funds for child protective services and establishing two new permanent full-time Child Protective Service Social Worker positions in the Department of Social Services effective October 5, 2004, with the funds. Nancy Coston said that Orange County and the Social Services Board and staff decided last year that they should join into the child welfare reform actions going on because it was a positive way to serve families. They were initially told that it would not require additional staff, but the research with the first 10 pilot counties found that this would not be true. The General Assembly appropriated funds in the last session to help with this. The counties that agreed to go into the reform received funding. Orange County received an allocation for two positions with full funding. There is no match required. A motion was made by Commissioner Carey, seconded by Commissioner Gordon to accept state funds for child protective services and establishing two new permanent full time Child Protective Service Social Worker positions in the Department of Social Services effective October 5, 2004.