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MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES August 19, 2013 2 Cheryl Young offered to reach out to the state to assist with the process. Ms. Coston noted that the manager of this effort has been very appropriate when she has contacted him with concerns. Claire Millar asked whether anything changed after the last conversation with the manager. Ms. Coston responded that not much new has occurred although one client’s application was approved late Friday. She added that social workers could have conducted all these assessments early on if they had been trained on how to utilize the formula. Ms. Millar asked whether there is any optimism that all the work will actually get completed. Ms. Coston responded that she thinks it will happen but will take a significant amount of time. Ms. Coston noted that one of the problems is that the households have to be handled on a case by case basis, making it difficult to have a standard solution. She added she has been talking to social workers to try to figure out individualized plans. Ms. Young asked how many children were impacted by the disaster. Ms. Coston responded many of the Camelot Village residents were adults without children, some elderly or disabled. Most of the Booker Creek residents impacted were families with children. Ms. Garavaglia stated that this has been a frustrating experience from the beginning and added she has concerns about how a major disaster would be handled. She noted that her letter to elected officials related to the issue between Duke Energy and flood victims seemed to upset the company. Ms. Coston responded that someone from the Town of Chapel Hill is trying to intervene. Ms. Coston added that Friends has been doing a great job working with the agency on solutions. She added that the relationship with Green Chair was not working out well and staff are not sending many families there. 2. NC FAST Update Lindsey Shewmaker updated the Board on the current status of NC FAST. Staff are only taking applications for a few of the Medicaid programs but hope to be taking applications for all programs by August 26th. There are still some issues with Food and Nutrition Services but staff are working through them and are providing food cards in the event there are issues. 3. Director’s Report There has been a slight hold up with the school social worker contract that appears to now be worked out. The Medicaid Case Management program that funds the staff members may end. Nancy Coston has met with the new officials at Orange County Schools to discuss what happens if funding ends. There are currently six social workers in the eight schools and they will be shifted around to cover if no more are added. The youth employment program is up and running. Cheryl Young thanked the Board and stated she hoped she could come back. She added that staff have been doing a wonderful job and hoped that some recognition could follow at some point. 4. Executive Session Claire Millar moved the Board enter into Executive Session pursuant to GS §143-318.11(a)(6). Arthrell Sanders seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent.