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MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES <br />May 19, 2014 <br />1 <br /> <br />THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: May 19, 2014 at the <br />Hillsborough Commons, Hillsborough, North Carolina. <br /> <br />BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Garavaglia, Chair; Claire Millar; Tamara <br />Dempsey-Tanner; Earl McKee; and Arthrell Sanders. <br /> <br />GUEST: None. <br /> <br />BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBER ABSENT: None. <br /> <br />STAFF PRESENT: Nancy Coston, Director; Denise Shaffer, Assistant Director; Lindsey Shewmaker, Human <br />Services Manager; Sharron Hinton, Human Services Manager; Duston Lowell, Program Manager; Karen <br />Lewis, Social Work Supervisor; Katherine Thompson, Intern; and Joyce Lee, Business Officer. <br /> <br />I. Call to Order and Introductions <br /> <br />DSS Chair, Pat Garavaglia, called the meeting to order at 4:04 pm. <br /> <br />II. Board Comments <br /> <br />Arthrell Sanders commented that she was glad Earl McKee won the primary election. Pat Garavaglia <br />seconded that comment. <br /> <br />III. Public Comments <br /> <br />Nancy Coston introduced Katherine Thompson as an MPA/MSW intern who would be with the agency <br />through the summer. <br /> <br />IV. Agenda Changes <br /> <br />None. <br /> <br />V. Action Items <br /> <br />On a motion by Claire Millar the Board approved the Minutes of April 21, 2014. Arthrell Sanders <br />seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. <br /> <br />VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision <br /> <br />1. Adoption and Foster Care Overview <br /> <br />Duston Lowell, Program Manager in Child Welfare, discussed basic processes in custody cases in <br />child welfare. Mr. Lowell explained that the agency receives custody of children based on a judicial <br />order citing significant safety concerns for a child. The first goal once the agency takes custody is <br />always reunification. Often children in custody are in the care of a relative instead of foster care. <br />The first step after a non-secure custody order is a hearing that has to occur within seven days. <br />That is followed by adjudication where social workers bring all evidence related to the case. A <br />Guardian ad Litem represents the best interest of the children. Staff and the Guardian ad Litem <br />present their recommendations along with the parents’ attorneys. The judge will then make a <br />decision about the case and issue orders. These orders may include recommendations made by <br />parties involved like substance abuse treatment, visitation, etc. If the case goes close to twelve