Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES <br />October 15, 2012 <br />2 <br />receive their benefits. Pat Garavaglia and Claire Millar discussed options for providing additional <br />food for families using PORCH or Food Bank food. <br /> <br />Nancy Coston added that management is working with Finance and Human Resources to add three <br />time-limited staff to work on NC FAST. <br /> <br />2. Unclaimed Body Protocol <br /> <br />Nancy Coston informed the Board that UNC Hospital will no longer be running a county morgue. <br />Orange County has been working on a response to this issue and Social Services staff have been <br />involved. Emergency Services now have facilities that will allow it to hold bodies of the recently <br />deceased until families can be contacted. Social Services will work with Emergency Services to <br />continue to handle any unclaimed bodies in the county. <br /> <br />3. Veteran Services Report <br /> <br />Sharron Hinton presented the findings of a report on Veterans Services in Orange County. She <br />reminded the Board that Lois Harvin-Ravin left the agency several months ago and the agency has <br />been working on defining community needs before hiring a new Veterans’ Officer. Staff at Social <br />Services held focus groups with community based veterans’ organizations to gather information <br />about what types of services are important to Orange County veterans. <br /> <br />Veterans wanted better signage on the building and a larger link on the county’s website. They <br />were also interested in a Veterans’ Officer that could help Veterans access benefits, facilitate <br />meetings, engage with local schools, universities, and community colleges, and do more outreach <br />activities. Veterans also wanted a Veterans’ Officer that had prior experience with Veterans’ <br />benefits and had performed military service. <br /> <br />There are between 6,500-7,000 Veterans in Orange County. Most are located in the middle and <br />northern areas of the county. <br /> <br />Valerie Foushee asked whether the agency had received complaints that Veterans were currently <br />not being served. She added that she has not received any complaints. Ms. Hinton responded that <br />the agency has not received any complaints. <br /> <br />4. Holiday Planning <br /> <br />Sharron Hinton informed the Board that the Toy Chest will be held December 15th-17th. Since the <br />last Board Meeting, Nancy Coston and Ms. Hinton met with UNC Athletic Department staff. Staff <br />identified the December 8th UNC men’s basketball game to collect toys. UNC is working on <br />outreach for the event. <br /> <br />Ms. Hinton and Pat Garavaglia are working with Performance Automotive to stage a Toys for Tots <br />event. Ms. Hinton is trying to get Eric Montross to work with the agency on this kick-off event for <br />the holiday toy drive. <br /> <br />Ms. Hinton asked whether Board members could help identify any volunteers to help with the Toy <br />Chest. Staff need help collecting toys from boxes located all around the county. Claire Millar stated <br />that she could get volunteers if she had dates and locations. <br /> <br />Ms. Hinton informed the Board that Trader Joe’s, who assisted with toy collections last year, was <br />contacted by an individual who claims to be affiliated with Toys for Tots but is not. Staff have asked