Minutes 04-16-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Adult Services Program Changes • Impacts of Sequestration Agency Programs and Services (Graphic) Nancy Coston reviewed the Budget Issues slide and said the child welfare cut was a result of a re-interpretation of policy and it will cause less money to be received each year to child welfare cases. She said the Work First Cash, once moved to the new system, will no longer be issuing checks but will be depositing money into client's bank account. She said this is about 350 cases served at a time, but these are the clients who are likely to not have a bank account or be in good standing at the bank. She said if a bank account cannot be established, the cash will be placed on the same EBT card as food and nutrition. She said this money will be free to spend on items other than food. The likely issue will be people seeing what is known to be a food stamp card used on non food items. She said this will likely cause an issue and DSS is working with banks to try and solve this issue. She said that there will be less spent this year on Child Subsidy and there are still applications being submitted for consolidated subsidy. She said that The Adult Services Program, Adult Care Home Management Program was privatized by the state last year and that funding has been lost, but Mental Health Guardianship cases were given. The guardianship money was not as high and the cases were more challenging. She said the impacts of sequestration have not trickled down yet but are expected to by next year. She said the main childcare funds are not supposed to be subject to this. Chair Jacobs said he, Commissioner McKee, and the Manager met with Congressman Price yesterday and the congressman requested a report on the impact of the sequestration. Chair Jacobs asked Nancy Coston to provide her feedback on this as she gets it. Nancy Coston said the state office is taking much of the hit this year. Frank Clifton said that so much of what is done is directed at the state first and the state moves money around, which changes the impact. Commissioner Gordon said it is important to let the public know how state and federal cuts have impacted local programs. She said this is important; otherwise blame for cuts is incorrectly placed. 4. Success Stories Nancy Coston referred to the graphic slide of programs and services. She said that there are a large number of programs under DSS and she would like to have the managers highlight a few of them. Sharron Hinton reviewed the following: Adolescent Parenting Program • Antonia gave birth to her daughter when she was 15 years old and in the 10th grade at Orange High School • The Adolescent Parenting Program gave her emotional and academic support, parenting education, and access to resources • Despite challenges she successfully graduated from high school and attends Alamance Community College Sharon Hinton said that the goal of the Adolescent Parenting Program is to work with all of the pregnant and parenting teens. She said there are social workers based in each of the local school systems- Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County. She said that the goal of the program is to offer support to help students