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MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES <br /> December 15,2025 <br /> operated 10a-6p Thursday and Friday last week, and today and tomorrow staff are offering walk-in <br /> hours for those who did not register. So far we have served 1,224 children, which is about 600 less <br /> than last year. When looking at registration data last week, we noticed that we didn't have as many <br /> Spanish speaking residents to register. We are looking into reasons that could explain this decline. <br /> We have spoken with El Centro Hispano and will be providing toys for their distribution on January <br /> 6th. <br /> Again this year we partnered with Toys for Tots and had 86 collection boxes placed throughout the <br /> county. We collected approximately 4,900 toys and 250 books. Our fundraising for this year <br /> supports next year and we've collected about $18k with a little over$3k coming from Jeans for Joy <br /> collection (for Orange County employees). Through the County's online Community Giving platform, <br /> we collected another $3,200. We do not use any county funds to run this program, so it all comes <br /> from donated toys and funds. It costs about$20k to run the program, so to have $18k at this point <br /> puts us in a really good position for next year. This year we have focused on rebuilding community <br /> connections and partnerships after losing a lot of community support and donors during Covid <br /> years. <br /> 4. Child and Family Specialty Plan <br /> Crystal Wiese presented on the Child and Family Specialty Plan (CFSP). This is the single <br /> statewide health plan that went into effect December 1, 2025, for kids in foster care, those who <br /> aged out up to age 24, and youth receiving adoption assistance. Everyone in DSS custody on <br /> December 1 was transitioned to CFSP administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield (Healthy Blue). <br /> Youth with an IDD with an innovations waiver, in intermediate care facility, or receiving CAP-C are <br /> exempt. We had three youth who were exempt and remained with the tailored care plan with <br /> Alliance. The transition went pretty smoothly with staff training and preparation for child welfare and <br /> Medicaid staff and foster families. We have four assigned care managers and one supervisor for <br /> Orange and Chatham counties. A potential hiccup right now is that Healthy Blue does not have a <br /> contract with U N C Health. However, there is a 6 month hold harmless period where it doesn't <br /> matter if the provider isn't in network, and we have been reassured that it is in the works and hasn't <br /> delayed or prevented care for our kids. <br /> 5. PATH NC Rollout Changes <br /> Crystal M. Wiese updated the Board on changes to the schedule for PATH NC rollout. This is the <br /> new child welfare technology system that will ultimately be rolled out statewide and will encompass <br /> intake/assessment through adoption. Eighty-nine counties are currently in for intake/assessment <br /> and we will be one of the last 11 for intake/assessment. When we do go in it will be for all <br /> components (intake/assessment, in-home, foster care, adoption, etc.) and we are a pilot county for <br /> all the ongoing work. NCDHHS has delayed the February 2026 rollout due to glitches and wants to <br /> make sure the system has full functionality. There has been no update on the rollout time for the <br /> last 11 counties, but they estimate about 2 months. Training now will not start until February. <br /> 6. Director's Report <br /> DSS has signed a contract with SAS to continue work on the child welfare data project. <br /> Staff are finalizing a contract with Allies40utcomes that will start in January to provide leadership <br /> development training for our supervisors and managers. The County HR provided training focuses <br /> more on policies than developing leadership skills. <br /> 3 <br />