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2 <br />families through work and promote personal responsibility, however, they want to ensure that the <br />program keeps children safe and fosters family stability. <br />Marti Pryor-Cook emphasized that welfare reform means that there will be major changes in <br />how Social Services are administered in this Country. One of her challenges is to look at how they <br />function as an agency, a community and a government. It requires a different way of looking at <br />things which is the real challenge. <br />Marti Pryor-Cook gave an overview of the NC House Plan (HB 5) for welfare reform and also <br />the Governor Hunt/Senate Bill (SB 35). This information is in the permanent agenda file in the <br />Clerk's office. She listed the °Carrots" of each plan and the impacts of each plan. She noted that a <br />crisis in Medicaid could be imminent. The House bill would only permit Medicaid growth of 15 <br />percent for the period between October 1, 1994 and October 1, 1996 whereas North Carolina <br />Medicaid has grown by 23 percent in half that time. <br />IMPLICATIONS FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN <br />John Walker noted that with welfare reform there is a need to develop new ways of doing <br />business. Collaboration will be needed in order to achieve the outcome they desire. Their focus <br />must be on what they hope to achieve from the programs they can afford to offer. Collaboration is <br />vital to the outcome. People who have talent, experience and resources must be brought together <br />for the purpose of achieving something they cannot achieve by themselves. Welfare Reform is too <br />big to be taken on by only a few people. The process must include people bringing whatever <br />resources they have to the table. <br />Michele Rivest, Executive Director of the Orange County Partnership for Young Children, <br />(Smart Start) summarized the funding cuts for young children and their families. She said that block <br />grant reductions and restructuring are likely to have significant negative impact on the lives of young <br />children and their families in Orange County and North Carolina. Young children are likely to <br />experience multiple impacts, and will be hit hardest in the areas of child care, child safety and child <br />health. She feels that emphasis for priority services must be placed on programs and services that <br />achieve measurable outcomes for young children and their families. <br />OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE DELIVERY <br />Marti Pryor-Cook talked about opportunities for collaboration. She said that there are many <br />changes in how they do business which presents many challenges to her and her staff. <br />NEXT STEPS/COMMENTS <br />Commissioner Crowther, member of the DSS Board, thanked everyone for their participation <br />in this presentation. He feels that the information will help the County Commissioners to set goals <br />for this coming year. He emphasized the importance of being ready to implement the changes in <br />service delivery when the state and the Federal Government finalize their bills. By being prepared, it <br />will help the Board to plan the budget for next year. He feels it is very important to find out what the <br />community wants as the outcome from welfare reform. He suggested setting up a 90-day task force <br />to pull in all the stakeholders in this process to address what needs to happen in order to address <br />what is necessary to reach the desired outcome in Orange County. He asked that the County <br />Commissioners help in this process. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that the information presented is really depressing. The needs <br />are real and he supports a committee to work on addressing what will be necessary to reach the <br />desired outcomes of the community. <br />