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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: June 17, 2003 <br />Action Agenda, <br />Item No. ~~-1 <br />SUBJECT• Legal Services Contract -Department of Social Services <br />DEPARTMENT: Social Services <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Contract <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Nancy Coston, 968-2000 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider approval of the Fiscal Year 2003-2004 contract for legal <br />representation for the Department of Social Services. <br />BACKGROUND: The Department of Social Services (DSS) requires extensive legal <br />representation particularly related to child welfare cases. All actions related to agency custody <br />of children, protection orders, adoptions, adult protective service orders and guardianships <br />require court hearings. There is an increased emphasis on assuring that all child welfare cases <br />are handled as quickly as possible to assure that children live with permanent safe families. <br />The law firm of Northen Blue, LLP, has provided legal representation for Social Services since <br />1979. Carol Holcomb of that firm has provided consultation and representation for children and <br />adult services at Social Services for over 10 years. She has comprehensive knowledge of <br />juvenile law and Guardianship proceedings and litigates court hearings with skill. She remains <br />on-call after hours to assist staff when the agency must assume emergency custody of children <br />at night and on weekends. Her knowledge is valued by the DSS social work staff, the Guardian <br />ad Litem office and the courts. <br />Social Services files petitions with the court for custody of an average of five children per month <br />and participates in court reviews of approximately 32 children per month. There are additional <br />court actions necessary to terminate parental rights and pursue adoption, to handle adult <br />guardianship cases and to handle the increasing numbers of appeals of child welfare court <br />actions. <br />The Social Services Board has reviewed this contract and recommends that the Board of <br />Commissioners approve continuation of the current contract with Northen Blue at the same rate <br />of $100 per hour. Additional costs for expert witnesses are also reimbursed through this <br />contract. <br />