12-15-2025 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES December 15,2025 The big change happening as of December 1, 2025 is expanded FNS work requirements for parents of children aged 14+ and recipients up to age 64. Additionally, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and foster youth under age 24 are no longer exempt from work requirements. It is estimated that about 173,000 adults in North Carolina will be subject to these expanded requirements. This change goes into effect for new applications and recertifications. Non- citizen eligibility goes into effect January 1, 2026, but it is currently tied up in legal challenges. For Orange County this will primarily have an impact on our refugee population. Currently, the federal government and state share of SNAP (FNS) administrative costs is 50/50 but beginning October 1, 2026, the share will shift to 25/75 federal/state. In NC, we are a county administered system so the impact is that the federal share will be reduced to 25% and county share will be increased to 75%. Benefit cost sharing is scheduled to start October 2027, and states will have to start paying some of the costs loaded onto EBT cards. Under the current error rate plan, NC would be at the 15% level (or$420m). This is the first time that states will be given the opportunity to opt out of offering the SNAP (FNS) program in its entirety if they are not able to pay their share. 2. DSS Board Annual Work Plan Lindsey Shewmaker presented the annual work plan template from the Board of County Commissioners and reminded the Board that the work plan gives them an opportunity to share with the BOCC a few issues that they would like their attention focused on for the year. DSS management team has identified some recommendations for the Board's consideration: • Sustainable funding for SNAP (FNS) and other DSS programs. We have already started having conversations internally about what we can do to be fiscally responsible given the upcoming revenue cut to FNS. Director Shewmaker will be speaking with the County Manger next week to see if we can get information on the front end to help us draft our budget request and to ask that we be included in any conversations about proposed cuts as opposed to making cuts without our input. • Behavioral health and placement access for children and adults in our care. • Emergency management and sustainability of DSS staff to be able to meet ongoing needs. Historically, DSS staff have taken on most of the heavy lifting during both response and recovery phases after emergencies. This effort will take some of the pressure off DSS staff. We will remain the lead for emergency support function 6 but will work towards pulling in community partners and other county departments for assistance. The hope is that this will make things easier for our staff, not more difficult. Board members can give feedback today or review and provide feedback for approval at the January meeting. 3. Holiday Program Recap Serena McPherson presented on the outcomes of the holiday sponsorship program for 2025. The sponsorship program serves the most at-risk children and adults within DSS. The program matches community members/organizations with a child or adult and provides the sponsor with a wish list that the social worker submitted. This year more than 60 adults, 217 children involved with child welfare, and 160 children from non-child welfare social work program areas were sponsored. For those not involved with a social work program who are at or below 200% of poverty or receiving public assistance (FNS, Medicaid, etc.), the Toy Chest provides families with an opportunity to come in and select gifts for their eligible children. Sharron Hinton informed the Board that this year it 2