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1 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 7, 2013 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 5 -k <br />SUBJECT: Approval of Contract with Holcomb and Cabe, L.L.P. to Provide Legal Services <br />to the Department of Social Services <br />DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Contract with Attachments <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Nancy Coston, 245 -2800 <br />PURPOSE: To consider approval of a contract for FY 2013 -2014 legal representation for the <br />Department of Social Services. <br />BACKGROUND: The Department of Social Services (DSS) requires extensive legal <br />representation particularly related to child welfare cases. All actions related to agency custody <br />of children, protection orders, adoptions, adult protective service orders and guardianships <br />require court hearings. There is an increased emphasis on assuring all child welfare cases are <br />handled as quickly as possible to assure that children live with permanent safe families. <br />Attorney Carol Holcomb has provided consultation and representation for children and adult <br />services at Social Services for over 20 years. In 2013 Ms. Holcomb left the firm of Northen <br />Blue, L.L.C. to start her own firm, Holcomb and Cabe, L.L.P. Ms. Holcomb has comprehensive <br />knowledge of juvenile law and guardianship proceedings and litigates court hearings with skill. <br />Ms. Holcomb remains on -call after hours to assist staff when the agency must assume <br />emergency custody of children at night and on weekends. Ms. Holcomb's knowledge and <br />expertise are valued by the DSS social work staff, the Guardian ad Litem office and the courts. <br />Social Services files petitions with the court for custody of an average of five children per month <br />and participates in all court reviews for children in custody. There are additional court actions <br />necessary to terminate parental rights and pursue adoption, to handle adult guardianship cases, <br />and to handle the increasing numbers of appeals of child welfare court actions. <br />The Social Services Board has reviewed this contract and recommends that the Board of <br />Commissioners approve this contract with Holcomb and Cabe, L.L.P. at the rate of $165 per <br />hour. Almost all the services in this contract will be provided directly by Ms. Holcomb. <br />Additional costs for expert witnesses are also reimbursed through this contract. <br />