Orange County NC Website
8 <br /> 1 Sharron Hinton said Drug Treatment Court is new to DSS and provides <br /> 2 administrative oversight for the drug treatment court, working with the district court <br /> 3 judges. <br /> 4 <br /> 5 5. Social Services Board Chair Remarks <br /> 6 DSS Board Chair, Pat Garavaglia thanked the Board of County Commissioners <br /> 7 for being so supportive to social services and for continuing to fund the safety net <br /> 8 programs. She thanked them for the three, time-limited positions that were budgeted for <br /> 9 this past year during the implementation of NC FAST, as well as the overtime pay for <br /> 10 employees working on this p jmct. She said the gift cards for food were also <br /> 11 appreciated, as well as the childcare assistance for county employees. She said the <br /> 12 DSS staff members are dedicated, compassionate and knowledgeable. <br /> 13 Chair Jacobs asked about the possible drug testing of poor people to get benefits <br /> 14 Nancy Coston said that she heard food nutrition and work first programs were the <br /> 15 targeted programs and people will be required to pay for the drug test and bring in the <br /> 10 certification. She said the federal funding cannot be used for drug testing and she <br /> 17 be/ieveathmcountym/i|| have to reimburse. <br /> 10 Chair Jacobs asked if the DSS board taken a position on this. <br /> 19 Pat Garavaglia said there was not a quorum at the last meeting, so this issue has <br /> 20 not been voted on. She said that she feels it is unreasonable to ask people who cannot <br /> 21 feed their families, to pay for a drug test. <br /> 22 Nancy Coston said a drug test will cost around$38 and then the background <br /> 23 criminal checks will cost too. She said both of these issues are floating around as bills <br /> 24 right now. She noted that there will also be the financial burden of staff time to facilitate <br /> 25 this. She said the last bill she saw was that DSS would provide and pay for treatment. <br /> 26 She said DSS already has the right, in child welfare programs, to ask for a treatment <br /> 27 plan if it is believed that a client has a drug problem. She said, in the proposed bill, <br /> 28 everyone would be tested. <br /> 29 <br /> 30 G. Closing Remarks <br /> 31 <br /> 32 Chair Jacobs asked for DSS to provide some bullet talking points on this issue <br /> 33 for the next agenda review, for a resolution to be brought forth to the Board of County <br /> 34 Commissioners. He also asked if a press release could be put out if the Board of County <br /> 35 Commissioners passed a resolution opposing this bill. <br /> 36 He thanked DSS for their hard work and dedication. <br /> 37 The meeting adjourned at 6:51pm. <br /> 38 <br /> 39 Barry Jacobs, Chair <br /> 40 <br /> 41 Donna S. Baker <br /> 42 Clerk to the Board <br />