Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Human Services Advisory Commission — Minutes — June 18, 2001 <br />>ince the '89 Poverty Forum 11 years ago. He added that we need some kind of comparison so we can see if we <br />have been successful. Robin Barnhill added to this thought by asking if the purpose could be to challenge the <br />community to see how far we have come since the 1989 Poverty Forum. Robin Barnhill asked, "Do we want to <br />build the 2001 Forum around the 1989 Forum ?" <br />Commissioner Jacobs added that this is a great starting place, and asked, " What else can we do ?" He said that <br />the other forums that the H.S.A.C. has done have been very helpful in the past. <br />Sharron commented that the 1989 Forum was a benchmark and that the County has accomplished much since <br />then. Co -Chair Wash said there seems to be a lot of things missing from the report, however. Marvin Block <br />said he would like us to focus on some major topics, and would like to see us sift out the relevant topics. <br />Co -Chair Wash suggested that we start with the topics in the 1989 Poverty Forum Report, and proceed from <br />there. <br />CO -CHAIR WASH CALLED FOR A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO ACCEPT THE TOPIC OF <br />"POVERTY." VOTE: UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. <br />Robin Barnhill agreed that we need a specific purpose statement as Marvin Block said. Co -Chair Wash said <br />that as Commissioner Jacobs said we can use this Poverty Forum 1989 Document as a basis for this year's <br />Forum. Marvin Block suggested that there may be topics that were not covered in the 1989 such as health <br />insurance. Louise Echols reminded the Human Services Advisory Commission that there is now the N.C. <br />Health Choice Medical Insurance Program which is available to children in low- income families. <br />Co -Chair Wash would like to add transportation and housing. Sharron commented that transportation needs are <br />now being addressed for the rural population with OPT (Orange Public Transportation), which is operated by <br />the County under the Department on Aging. <br />Sharron added that having the Forum on this subject goes along with what the H.S.A.0 . has been <br />discussing for a few months now; i.e., to follow up on the last several Forums to see how far we have come <br />and what has been accomplished from the recommendations that have been made from the past Forums. <br />Debbie Kinert then brought up the news article that Commissioner Jacobs read. She referred to it and compared <br />it to the census data that Corinthia Barber had handed out on income levels. <br />Goals for the Forum to Accomplish Marvin Block, referring to the report of 1989 Forum, said he thought <br />that we need to go into three or four major topics and not try to go into everything that was addressed in 1989 <br />Forum. Melvin Hurston continued Mr. Block's thought by asking the group, "How much can we reasonably do <br />in the next three months ?" His opinion was that the 2001 Forum goal could be to keep us mindful of what we <br />have done since 1989; what we would like to see done in the future; and that we acknowledge that this is a <br />problem that permeates many people's lives. He added that this Forum could be a program to discuss poverty in <br />Orange County. <br />Protecting and Preserving — People, Resources, Quality of Life <br />Orange County, North Carolina — You Count! <br />AREA CODE (919) 245 -2125: FAX (919) 644 -0246: EMAIL: npaciiza(cz)co.orange.nc.us : WEB: www.co.orange.naus <br />