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MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES <br />October 17, 2022 <br />2 <br /> <br />The agency is working on salary adjustments for staff to be more competitive with other counties. <br />There are currently 7 vacancies in child welfare and 24 overall. <br /> <br />Nancy Coston discussed statewide work on increasing placement options for children in care. Staff <br />have discussed increasing support for kinship care, including financial support. There are also <br />conversations with some of the private providers about contracting for space. The current <br />contingency plan is to rent a hotel suite and identify staff teams of two to supervise. There are also <br />efforts to lower the time for kids in custody and work on developing capacity for a visitation center <br />that would allow for overnight and supervised family visits with the potential for overnight stays for <br />kids in care if needed in an emergency. <br /> <br />4. Holiday Programs <br /> <br />Sharron Hinton informed the Board that the Toy Chest will be held 12/14-12/16 from 9a-6p for <br />children birth through age 12. Parents will be able to schedule appointments. Families will receive <br />food cards in addition to toys. <br /> <br />Social workers have worked with their families to complete wish lists and sponsors are being <br />matched for the sponsorship program. <br /> <br />5. Director’s Report <br /> <br />The recent tropical storm caused staff to prepare to activate for sheltering. <br /> <br />The position for the SOAR worker was moved to the Housing Department. <br /> <br />VII. Announcements <br /> <br />Jamezetta Bedford moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:56 pm. Jane Garrett seconded the motion. The motion <br />was carried without dissent. <br /> <br />Submitted by: <br /> <br /> Nancy Coston, DSS Director <br /> <br /> Ann Wilkerson, Vice-Chair