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13 <br />collaboration with ERC (i.e. the sludge disposal educational <br />project). <br />A regular periodic meeting between the Health Board and DSS <br />Board and any of the related advisory committees might help <br />open up more dialog for collaboration and reduce duplication or <br />overlap serving similar population groups. This is important <br />given the county's several service delivery locations. <br />DSS <br />Issues at DSS parallel those at the Health Department. After the <br />construction projects are completed there may be opportunities <br />to review facility issues again. Some items that came up during <br />my departmental visits are highlighted below as worthy of <br />further investigation and discussion. <br />Orange County exceeds state minimums in its staffing <br />allocations and response to human service needs provided by <br />DSS.- There is duplication of administrative costs associated <br />with the local Smart Start agencies separately run child care <br />service support in lieu of the mandated function provided by <br />DSS.. Smart Start funds spent on duplicative administrative <br />costs are dollars diverted from child care subsidies for those in <br />need. <br />Orange County has been generous in its support of human <br />services provided by various non-profits and not-for-profits. It <br />is suggested that a closer analysis of that support and alignment <br />with the mandated functions of DSS is worth pursuing. It is <br />important that administrative costs be kept low and clients see <br />the services they need. DSS agencies operate differently in <br />counties across NC. It might be beneficial to periodically <br />9 <br />