Agenda - 10-05-2004-9b - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 5, 2004 Action Agenda Item No. a-~ __ SUBJECT: Contract for Social Work Services Between Orange County Schools and Orange County Department of Social Services DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Proposed Contract Nancy Costan, ext. 2802 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider a contract between the Orange County Schools and the Orange County Department of Social Services for the provision of four additional Department of Social Services positions to provide social work and case management services in the schools, BACKGROUND: The Orange County Schools system has determined a need far additional social workers to expand services to students within the district. Orange County Schools presently employs four social workers to serve their student population, and this contract would add four additional social work positions at the schools. Services include identificaticn of family, economic and social issues impacting the ability of students to have successful academic outcomes, provision of counseling to children and families with certain risk factors, and provision of other supportive services to address the identified problems. The Orange County Department of Social Services has as a part of its mission the prevention of abuse and neglect of children as well as the promotion of self-sufficiency and family well-being, The Department has federal Medicaid funding available through a program called At-Risk Case Management to assist certain at risk families. This particular service requires a local match and must be provided by employees of a local department of social services. Through a contractual arrangement, Orange County Department of Social Services proposes to provide four Social Worker positions to serve at risk children in the Orange County Schools. The staff would be located at the schools although they would be employees of the Department of Social Services. The social work positions would be contingent on the existence of this contract and staff hired into those positions would be informed of this contingency. Social work staff would be hired, supervised, and trained by the Department of Social Services in regular communication and consultation with appropriate School staff. This is the same methodology currently in place between the Orange County Department of Social Services and the UNC Hospitals for the employment of Medicaid workers. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools