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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: June 7, 2005 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 0 <br />SUBJECT: Contract Renewal with Northen Blue, LLP for DSS Legal Services <br />DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Contract <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Nancy Costan, 968-2000 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider renewal of a contract for Fiscal Year 2005-2006 contract for legal <br />representation for the Department of Social Services. <br />BACKGROUND: The Department of Social Services (DSS) requires extensive legal <br />representation particularly related to child welfare cases, All actions related to agency custody <br />of children, protection orders, adoptions, adult protective service orders and guardianships <br />require court hearings, There is an increased emphasis on assuring that all child welfare cases <br />are handled as quickly as possible to assure that children live with permanent safe families. <br />The law firm of Northen Blue, LLP, has provided legal representation for Social Services since <br />1979, Carol Holcomb of that firm has provided consultation and representation for children and <br />adult services at Social Services for over ten years. Ms. Holcomb has comprehensive <br />knowledge of juvenile law and Guardianship proceedings and litigates court hearings with skill, <br />Ms Holcomb remains on-call after hours to assist staff when the agency must assume <br />emergency custody of children at night and on weekends, The DSS social work staff, the <br />Guardian ad Litem office and the courts value her knowledge, <br />Social Services files petitions with the court for custody of an average of five children per month <br />and participates in court reviews of approximately 46 children per month. There are additional <br />court actions necessary to terminate parental rights and pursue adoption, to handle adult <br />guardianship cases and to handle the increasing numbers of appeals of child welfare court <br />actions, <br />The Social Services Board has reviewed this contract and recommends that the Board of <br />Commissioners continue the contract with Northen Blue at the rate of $110 per hour. Additional <br />casts far expert witnesses are also reimbursed through this contract, <br />