Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES <br />May 21, 2012 <br />2 <br />2012, the agency will begin taking all calls for Medicaid transportation scheduling. Staff will work <br />with clients to get information needed to complete the state mandated log. The agency is also <br />expanding other transportation options including vouchers and mileage reimbursement. <br /> <br />Nancy Coston added that she spoke with Rebecca Troutman today about Medicaid transportation <br />changes. Ms. Troutman was advocating for departments of social services to continue to work with <br />local transportation agencies to meet Medicaid requirements. <br /> <br />3. Child Care Spending Report <br /> <br />Tina Clark updated the Board about what is currently happening in child care subsidy. The waiting <br />list for child care subsidy that was over 650 children is clear and the agency is currently determining <br />eligibility for clients walking in the door. Many families who recently received child care subsidy <br />were very excited to have help paying for care. <br /> <br />Nancy Coston gave out copies of the agency response to the letter sent to the Board of County <br />Commissioners by a few Orange County child care providers. <br /> <br />Claire Millar asked whether the child care providers responded. Ms. Coston replied that the agency <br />prepared the response for county management to share with the Board of County Commissioners. <br />Valerie Foushee added that the Board of County Commissioners also received a letter from <br />Margaret Samuels, the Executive Director of the Orange County Partnership for Young Children. <br /> <br />Ms. Clark noted that there are currently 802 children receiving subsidy. Ms. Coston added that <br />there are so many children on subsidy now that the agency will likely be overspending based on the <br />projections for next year’s allocation. A waiting list is likely to emerge. <br /> <br />Ms. Coston explained that $200,000 in county funds will be used to fill some of the gap for next <br />year. <br /> <br />Albert Williams asked what it meant that the waiting list was cleared. Ms. Clark responded that <br />families on the waiting list were either served, were no longer eligible or failed to respond when <br />contacted by the agency. <br /> <br />4. Budget and Legislative Update <br /> <br />Nancy Coston informed the Board that the budget recommended by the County Manager did not <br />have any cuts for Social Services outside of the hiring freeze. The budget work session for Social <br />Services is scheduled for June 7th. There is a proposed salary increase of 2% and a merit bonus of <br />$500 or $1000. Ms. Coston added that there is still hope that the General Assembly will restore <br />some funding for child welfare. <br /> <br />Although Senate Bill 433 has not been heard yet, the same language has been rolled into a mental <br />health governance bill. The health director’s association is advocating that the consolidated human <br />services director have all the qualifications of a public health director. Pat Garavaglia noted that <br />she received a response from Joe Hackney thanking her for her input. There is still lobbying going <br />on in support of and against the bill. The bill also includes wording naming social services as the <br />only public guardian. There are some questions about how to handle conflict of interest cases if <br />this does not change. <br /> <br />Ms. Coston shared the County Manager’s funding recommendations for outside agencies in his <br />proposed budget.