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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: June 27, 2006 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 5- o <br />SUBJECT: Contract Renewal for Social Work Services Between Orange County Schools <br />and Orange County Department of Social Services <br />DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Renewal Contract <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Nancy Coston, 245- 2802 <br />Gwen Price. 245-2885 <br />PURPOSE: To renewal the contract between the Orange County Schools and the Orange <br />County Department of Social Services for the provision of seven Department of Social Services <br />positions and related supervision to provide social work and case management services in the <br />schools. <br />BACKGROUND: The Orange County Schools system had determined a need for additional <br />social workers to expand services to students within the district. The original contract added four <br />positions, in additional to the four employed by the schools, to serve at risk children. Last year, <br />three additional social workers were added so that all schools had a social worker assigned. <br />Services include identification of family, economic and social issues impacting the ability of <br />students to have successful academic outcomes, provision of counseling to children and <br />families with certain risk factors, and provision of other supportive services to address the <br />identified problems. <br />The Orange County Department of Social Services has as a part of its mission the prevention of <br />abuse and neglect of children as well as the promotion of self-sufficiency and family well-being. <br />The Department has federal Medicaid funding available through a program called At-Risk Case <br />Management to assist certain at risk families. This particular service requires a local match and <br />must be provided by employees of a local department of social services. <br />Through a contractual arrangement, Orange County Department of Social Services began <br />providing services to the Orange County Schools in .)anuary 2005. The staff are located at the <br />schools although they are employees of the Department of Social Services. The social work <br />positions are contingent on the existence of this contract and staff members hired into those <br />positions are informed of this contingency. Social work staff are hired, supervised, and trained <br />by the Department of Social Services in regular communication and consultation with <br />appropriate School staff. This is the same methodology currently in place between the Orange <br />