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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: February 5, 2008 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 4 <br />SUBJECT: Agreement with UNC Occupational Science Division for Preventive Home Visit <br />Research Project <br />DEPARTMENT: Aging PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Agreement . <br />Jerry Passmore, 245-2009 <br />Kate Barrett, 968-2085 <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />PURPOSE: To seek permission to execute agreements with the University of North Carolina at <br />Chapel Hill for the Department on Aging's participation in the two-year "Feasibility and Effects of <br />Preventive Home Visits" study funded by the National Institute of Health. <br />BACKGROUND: In January, 2006, the Board of County Commissioners approved the <br />Department on Aging's Eldercare Services Division participation in the Preventive Home Visit <br />Research Project grant proposal developed by UNC Occupational Science. Division. In this <br />proposal, Eldercare's Vibeke Talley and UNC students would conduct home visits with persons <br />75 years of age or older to investigate if seniors receiving preventive home visits are more likely <br />to age in place safely, maintain physical and mental health, and improve their quality of life. <br />Ms. Talley's time devoted to this project would average 15 hours per week over the two-year <br />grant period. The Division of Occupational Sciences will reimburse Orange County for this staff <br />time and operating expenses. The work responsibilities associated with Ms. Talley's position <br />will still require attention, and staff plans to employ temporary social worker staff for 15 hours <br />per week to address these duties. Temporary staff would be compensated with the funds that <br />were previously designated as part of Ms. Talley's compensation. There will be no additional <br />cost to Orange County with the contract or with the employment of temporary staff. The <br />temporary social worker's duties will include answering the Aging Transitions Helpline one day <br />per week, following up on case assistance requests, and conducting home visits to new and <br />existing clients as assigned by the Eldercare Transitions Supervisor. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: Orange County will receive reimbursement for salary, fringe, operating <br />and indirect cost expenses not to exceed $18,792 for the period January to June, 2008. No <br />Orange County funds would be required for the project. The total reimbursement available <br />during the two-year project is $56,194. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the agreements <br />with the UNC Occupational Sciences Division for the Department on Aging's Eldercare Services <br />Division participation in the Preventive Home Visit project and authorize the Chair to sign the <br />agreements subject to the County Attorney's review and approval.