Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES <br />January 18, 2011 <br />2 <br />review. Ms. Coston added that input on the applications will be due in late February. She also <br />added that revenues will need to be turned in to the county before the Board meets again. The <br />entire February Board meeting will likely be about the budget. <br /> <br />Ms. Coston informed the Board that two positions coming over from the Department on Aging will <br />be included in the FY2011-12 budget. Staff are still working on reorganizing the public assistance <br />section of the agency. <br /> <br />2. Child Care <br /> <br />Denise Shaffer reminded the Board that there is a budget shortage for child care subsidy for <br />FY2010-11. Staff are currently reviewing all Child Protective Services and Work First cases to <br />make certain that child care is still needed. Funds from foster care line items will be used to pay <br />child care costs for children in foster care. By the next meeting, staff should be able to update the <br />Board on the results of the review and plans for funding children in critical situations in need of child <br />care. <br /> <br />Nancy Coston informed the Board that she has heard from Smart Start about enhanced payments <br />for children receiving subsidy. Smart Start has requested that Social Services administer the <br />enhanced payments for the remainder of the year. The Smart Start Board has also notified the <br />Department of Social Services that a letter will suffice if interested in administering Smart Start <br />subsidy. Ms. Coston stated that this letter is due in February. The agency is planning on <br />submitting a letter to administer the funds beginning in FY2011-12. The Smart Start Board is <br />meeting next week at the Hillsborough Commons and more information may become available at <br />that time. <br /> <br />Valerie Foushee mentioned that she attended a breakfast at which the Governor stated that she felt <br />that Smart Start should not be cut. Ms. Coston replied that the Directors favor some consolidation <br />of child care subsidy. The Civitas Institute has spoken in favor of cutting all funds to Smart Start. <br /> <br />Ms. Coston also added that the Smart Start Board has sent an MOU to the county outlining <br />responsibilities. <br /> <br />Ms. Coston noted that the Electronic Benefit Transfer program for child care is still expected to <br />become operational this summer. At that point, all subsidy payments will be made directly to the <br />providers. <br /> <br />3. Food Distribution <br /> <br />Denise Shaffer informed the Board that FRIENDS of DSS has organized two food distributions, one <br />on Monday in Hillsborough and one next Wednesday at Southern Human Services. The food is <br />coming from the Food Bank. Pat Garavaglia noted that Dot Warren had called to ask for her <br />assistance in securing the building in Hillsborough for a TFAP distribution. Ms. Garavaglia referred <br />her back to Nancy Coston. Abundant Life used to provide the location for this food distribution, and <br />is now unable to continue the program. Claire Millar asked how long the food would continue to <br />come from the Food Bank since the previous food distribution program is now defunct. Ms. Coston <br />responded that there are federal funds that provide certain types of food to counties and if nobody <br />comes forward to distribute the food, it will remain at the food bank. <br /> <br />Ms. Coston added that Ms. Warren requested use of the parking lot at Hillsborough Commons to <br />distribute the food to low-income families. Ms. Shaffer informed the Board that FRIENDS has <br />asked that workers notify families in their caseload. This is not possible due to the high caseload