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1 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 8, 2014 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 7 -d <br />SUBJECT: Future of Employees in Contract For Family Specialists with Orange County <br />Schools <br />DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Nancy Coston, 919 245 2800 <br />PURPOSE: To receive an update on the anticipated loss of a contract with Orange County <br />Schools, to discuss options for staff currently employed in Family Specialists Positions and to <br />consider the option of extending employment for current social workers. <br />BACKGROUND: In 2005, the Orange County Schools (OCS) had determined a need for <br />additional social workers to expand services to students in the district. The Orange County <br />Department of Social Services (DSS) had access to federal Medicaid funding through a program <br />called At -Risk Case Management to provide services to children with certain risk factors. These <br />funds were only available to staff employed at DSS and the program required a local match. A <br />plan was developed for DSS to provide staff to the schools and to pay for the local costs of the <br />services. Initially four social workers were hired for this contract and the program later <br />expanded to eight positions, one of which is currently vacant. These staff, with the existing <br />three social workers employed by OCS, allowed coverage by a social worker at each district <br />school. <br />During the last few years, there have been concerns about the future of the At -Risk Case <br />Management program. Revenues from the program had decreased some since its inception. <br />Local agencies have now been informed that the state will no longer provide this waiver, but will <br />instead operate Supportive Case Management Services. The main differences in these <br />programs are that currently many activities related to child well -being may be covered, whereas <br />the new program only allows costs for coordinating and managing activities related to services <br />covered by Medicaid. <br />For example, currently a home visit with a family to discuss a child's performance and <br />attendance at school would be covered, although the new program will only cover time <br />discussing services needed through Medicaid, such as health or mental health appointments. <br />Another difference is that the child had to meet certain at risk criteria whereas the new program <br />