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MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES <br /> July 20,2020 <br /> 2. COVID-19 Updates <br /> Nancy Coston updated the Board about plans to staff the agency and see clients as more people <br /> start to come back to the agency and many of the state interview waivers expire. With schools <br /> choosing remote options there are more issues for both staff and clients coming into the Fall. DSS <br /> received CARES money for social work services and mass feeding. <br /> DSS also received $66,000 for staff costs that need to be used by December. The current plan is <br /> to hire temporary staff to supplement the work of protective social work staff. Human Resources <br /> has had discussions about over-staffing areas of DSS to compensate for COVID staffing problems. <br /> 3. Child Care Policy Changes <br /> Tina Clark updated the Board on the current operations of the child care subsidy unit. Currently <br /> there's no waiting list for parents to receive child care. Within the last two months about 50 families <br /> have contacted DSS for child care services and more than half of those families have been <br /> approved for child care vouchers. As a result of the COVID pandemic, parent fees have been <br /> waived for child care subsidy parents for the last four months and child care recertifications were <br /> extended through 2021 for families that were due to recertify during the months of April-June. <br /> During the Stay at Home order, the Division of Child Development & Early Education (DCDEE) <br /> implemented the Emergency Child Care Program which provided payments to child care providers <br /> that remained open to serve children of essential workers. Orange County had about 25 child care <br /> providers that remained opened in April and May. As of June 1 st, most Child Care providers in <br /> Orange County reopened. Providers currently are not operating at full capacity. DCDEE has <br /> received federal funds from the CARES Act which has allowed additional payments to child care <br /> providers to help offset any funding shortages during the pandemic. Child Care providers received <br /> staff bonus for April and May and are currently receiving operational grants in addition to their <br /> regular subsidized monthly payment. So far, Orange County child care providers have received <br /> over $700,000 for staff bonuses and operational grants. <br /> There has been no guidance from DCDEE in regard to child care centers assisting with school age <br /> care for children of working parents when school reopens. Working parents are concerned about <br /> how they will manage online learning when they have to be at work. <br /> All counties have also been asked to update their waiting list policies. The state has asked all <br /> counties to include siblings in the wording of the policy. Orange County has always done this in <br /> practice but has not had it included in the written policy. The policy now includes a statement to <br /> indicate that siblings can be served on an active child care case when a waiting list has been <br /> implemented. The Social Services Board needs to approve any changes made to the Child Care <br /> Subsidy Waiting List Policy. <br /> Tamara Dempsey-Tanner moved that the Board approve the Child Care Subsidy Waiting List policy <br /> change as presented. Jamezetta Bedford seconded the motion. The motion was carried without <br /> dissent. <br /> 4. Board Member Vacancy <br /> Tamara Dempsey-Tanner stated that she would like a review of applicants by the entire Board to <br /> make a decision about the addition of a new Board Member. <br /> 2 <br />