2018-412-E Finance - Dispute Settlement Center outside agency agreement

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DocuSign Envelope ID: D068E7B0- D869- 43F4- B35C- 428F10E3BDC1 EXHIBIT A: PROVIDER'S OUTSIDE AGENCY APPLICATION Family cases: Lawyers, therapists, family service providers and others in the community refer people to us. People know of us and self- refer. Senior care providers and the Orange County Clerk of Court may send us eldercare disputes. Medicaid Recipients: The Office of Administrative Hearings sends these poor and disabled citizens (or their advocates) to us for facilitation of disputes over Medicaid - funded services. g) Describe the credentials of the program manager and other key staff. (Ex. Identify Program Manager and credentials, describe training provided to volunteers, etc.) The Executive Director has a JD and 26 years of mediation experience. She is an adjunct professor at the UNC School of Government, teaching Non - Profit Management. The Mediation Coordinator has 23 years of experience in mediation. Assisting in court is the Restorative Practices Coordinator, with a JD and 6 years of experience in mediation. h) Describe the specific period over which the activities will be carried out and include an implementation timeline. July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 we will attend Criminal District Court "People's Court" sessions regularly for referral, interviewing, and mediation. This means Mondays and Thursdays, with a team of mediators attending on the People's Court days. In addition, we receive referrals, do intake, and mediate family, community and eldercare cases throughout the year. We are available for consultations throughout business hours on the phone or ny people coming by the office: this is a lot of our work, as people in conflict need to vent, tell their story, and learn about mediation. Many times mediation is not appropriate for their situation. It may be too late in the drama, there may be violence or the threat of violence, or one party may be unwilling. This is not reflected in the numbers, but is a service we provide. Even when situations do not come to mediation, it can be helpful for people to talk to us, be heard, and get some ideas for conciliation or moving forward, short of mediation. Medicaid Appeals are referred to us when initiated, and we have 25 days in which to hold a mediation and report. i) Why is funding this program a good investment for the community? How does funding this program add value to the community? (250 words OR LESS) Orange County has a role to play in making sure that the court system functions effectively. A crowded docket strains resources and lack of efficiency in case management could also mean increased crowding and liability in the local jail. As mentioned above, our service as funded by the BOCC means low- resource clients can get mediation and return to their jobs without paying fees, leading to the "poverty trap." PROGRAM INFORMATION 1/22/2018 4:11:17 PM Page 18 of 27