Agenda - 11-11-2014 - 3 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 11, 2014 Action Agenda Item No. 3 SUBJECT: Update on Employment and Child Care Programs Operating at Social Services DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Child Care Eligibility Chart Market Rate Chart INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Coston, 919 - 245 -2800 PURPOSE: To receive an update on Department of Social Services (DSS) employment programs and child care services and to provide feedback to staff on the use of County funds to support these efforts. BACKGROUND: One of the important missions of the Department of Social Services is to help low income families increase financial self- sufficiency. Staff plans to provide the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) with information about some of the employment and training activities currently provided at DSS and some of the barriers faced by low income working families. These programs include Work First, Food and Nutrition Employment and Training, and the Building Futures Youth Employment and Training Program. Many of the families served at DSS also need child care subsidy to support either work or child safety. Recent changes by the North Carolina General Assembly to eligibility rules and a budget cut related to updated census data have created a crisis in the child care program at DSS. Before the summer recess and before the General Assembly approved its budget, the BOCC was informed about the possibility of some of these changes. At a Board budget work session, an adjustment to the Social Services (DSS) budget was made with the understanding that these additional funds would be used to serve any families losing eligibility due to the income changes until this issue could be revisited by the BOCC. DSS has been studying the impact of these various changes and is seeking guidance from the BOCC about the use of County funds to support some of the impacted children and families. The attached chart summarizes the changes and recommendations that have been discussed by the Social Services Board. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Since this is an informational item and relates to funding in the approved DSS budget, there is no financial impact. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive and discuss the update information provided by the Department of Social Services and provide feedback on the use of County funds to support child care and employment activities.