Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
6 <br /> • If the department fails to complete the corrective action plan, DHHS must direct the <br /> regional office to temporarily assume all or part of the department's social services <br /> administration. Prior to doing so, DHHS must provide 30 days' notice to the board of <br /> county commissioners, department, county manager, and board of social services. <br /> • Once DHHS determines that the department is able to meet performance requirements, <br /> it must restore administrative responsibilities to the department. Prior to doing so, it <br /> must provide notice to county officials. <br /> DHHS is required to submit various reports over time to the General Assembly regarding the <br /> contracts and corrective action. <br /> Part IV. Regional Social Services Departments <br /> As mentioned above, earlier versions of the legislation would have required a new system of <br /> regional social services departments. The version that was enacted directs the Working Group <br /> to broadly consider the idea of regionalization and also authorizes counties to create regional <br /> departments on their own initiative beginning in March 2019. Some highlights about regional <br /> departments: <br /> • They may provide the full array of social services or limit the scope to one or more <br /> selected programs or services. For example, a group of counties could decide to create a <br /> regional department that focuses only on child support enforcement. <br /> • They will be public authorities, which means they will be separate legal entities from the <br /> county. They will have independent authority related to budgeting, contracting, <br /> personnel, etc. <br /> • Boards of county commissioners,together with the social services governing board, will <br /> have the authority to decide whether to create or join a regional department. The board <br /> or boards of county commissioners will have the exclusive authority to decide whether <br /> to withdraw from or dissolve a regional department. Withdrawals and dissolutions may <br /> be effective only at the end of a fiscal year. <br /> • They must maintain a physical presence in each county. <br /> • Participating counties are required to contribute financially to the regional department. <br /> The Social Services Commission is required to adopt rules governing financial <br /> contributions. <br /> • They will have a governing board appointed by a combination of county commissioners, <br /> the Social Services Commission, and the sitting members. <br /> • They will have a director who has the same powers and duties as a county social <br /> services director, as well as the authority to enter into contract. <br /> The session law included several conforming amendments to other statutes to accommodate <br /> the concept of a multi-county social services agency. One of the most significant changes was to <br /> G.S. 7B-400(a), which was amended to provide that <br /> (1) a proceeding may be commenced in the judicial district where the juvenile resides or <br /> is present at the time the petition is filed and <br /> Page 4—September 35, 2017 <br />