Orange County NC Website
MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES <br />January 18, 2019 <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />budget and plan to present the proposed budget at the next meeting. Most budget issues will focus <br />on child welfare changes and impacts. Staff are planning to request a new Social Worker I position <br />to assist with meeting some of the increased policy and procedural expectations. <br /> <br />Tamara Dempsey-Tanner asked whether there were any budget-related issues regarding Medicaid <br />Transformation. Ms. Coston noted that Medicaid Transformation is part of the work session with <br />the Board of County Commissioners and more information will be provided then. A group of <br />directors are working on client messaging as more information becomes available. <br /> <br />Mark Marcoplos asked whether Medicaid Transformation was the first step toward privatization. <br />Ms. Coston responded that it is managed care and private companies have bid, although there are <br />attempts to make this different than mental health. Providers are looking at including social <br />determinants of health as part of the package of services offered in the bidding process for the <br />Managed Care Organizations. The first phase is scheduled to go live in November of 2019. <br /> <br />Ms. Coston also noted there are new federal guidelines about the bidding of federal funds for <br />certain services. This may mean that the county will need to bid attorney services and in-home <br />aide providers. There are some significant issues and concerns with changing a child welfare <br />attorney, particularly with all the changes happening in child welfare. <br /> <br />Non-profit applications for county funds will still be presented to the DSS Board in February or <br />March. Some of these agencies contract for services with DSS currently and staff will provide <br />information on how those relationships are working. <br /> <br />3. Federal Shutdown Impacts <br /> <br />Nancy Coston presented an overview of anticipated federal shutdown impacts. Some programs are <br />not affected by the shutdown and some are, depending on which programs had already been <br />authorized and funded. Programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture <br />(USDA) are impacted including Food and Nutrition Services (FNS). Programs in the United States <br />Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) along with Temporary Assistance for Needy <br />Families (TANF), some immigration programs, and some juvenile justice programs are also <br />impacted at the federal level. Lindsey Shewmaker discussed the impact of the federal shutdown on <br />Food and Nutrition in more detail. <br /> <br />FNS funds pay for about 30 staff, TANF funds about 30 staff. Pat Garavaglia asked whether staff <br />would be working without pay. Ms. Coston responded that the State has money through February <br />to pay for staffing costs. <br /> <br />Mark Marcoplos asked whether something in writing could be sent to the BOCC and mentioned <br />there are social justice funds available. <br /> <br />4. Director’s Report <br /> <br />The Regional Work Force Board meeting was at Orange County DSS yesterday and two former <br />participants spoke which was very impactful. <br /> <br />VII. Announcements <br /> <br />Tamara Dempsey-Tanner moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:12 am. Susie Enoch seconded the motion. The