Minutes 04-16-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Nancy Coston said that there are now federal dollars in place to pay for Food and Nutrition Services training for people who have lost jobs in the recession. She said this will be incorporated into other programs as well. Joyce Lee spoke about food distribution. She said that DSS receives food from the North Carolina Food Bank and People Offering Relief for Chapel Hill Carrboro Homes (PORCH). She said backpacks are packed and given to residents who come in needing food. She said that referrals are also done to OCIM and this year 561 referrals have already been done. She noted that this is an increase in people needing food. Dustin Lowell said Second Family Program Expansion works with youth and adolescents who are in the custody of DSS. The organization takes foster children and offers them opportunities such as tutoring, guitar lessons, summer vacations and college visits, among other things. The focus is for this year is on adolescents getting summer jobs, and there is a proposal to lease a county vehicle for a year and provide transportation to and from job interviews and part time jobs. Denise Schaeffer said the Community Response Program is a collaborative project with Partnership for Young Children. Social workers are employed on a contract basis to enhance protective factors in families with a history of issues. She said this program is operating under a three year grant and this is the first year. Sharron Hinton said the Emergency Solutions Grant is the second phase to Homelessness Prevention Grant, a million dollar grant given in 2009 for a three year period. This was to administer prevention and housing for people at risk of becoming homeless. She said this funding stream changed and this grant is now limited to $169,000. She said that$60,000 of this was contracted to IOC in Carrboro to help with shelter operation, and the balance is to go to housing. Sharon Hinton said that the Workforce Investment Act Youth Grant (WIA Youth Grant) was just applied for last week. Currently the Youth Initiative is implemented through JOCCA. She said this was a prime time for Orange County to apply for funding, and DSS anticipates being able to provide a program for at risk and low income adolescents. These programs will provide these youth with opportunities for employment and training opportunities. She anticipates hearing about the grant by July 1 St. Sharron Hinton said Drug Treatment Court is new to DSS and provides administrative oversight for the drug treatment court, working with the district court judges. 5. Social Services Board Chair Remarks DSS Board Chair, Pat Garavaglia thanked the Board of County Commissioners for being so supportive to social services and for continuing to fund the safety net programs. She thanked them for the three, time-limited positions that were budgeted for this past year during the implementation of NC FAST, as well as the overtime pay for employees working on this project. She said the gift cards for food were also appreciated, as well as the childcare assistance for county employees. She said the DSS staff members are dedicated, compassionate and knowledgeable. Chair Jacobs asked about the possible drug testing of poor people to get benefits Nancy Coston said that she heard food nutrition and work first programs were the targeted programs and people will be required to pay for the drug test and bring in the certification. She said the federal funding cannot be used for drug testing and she believes the county will have to reimburse. Chair Jacobs asked if the DSS board taken a position on this. Pat Garavaglia said there was not a quorum at the last meeting, so this issue has not been voted on. She said that she feels it is unreasonable to ask people who cannot feed their families, to pay for a drug test.