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MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES <br />August 18 , 2025 <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br />THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MET ON MONDAY: August 18, at the Orange <br />County Department of Social Services at 113 Mayo Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278. <br /> <br />BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBERS PRESENT : Oscar Fleming, Jane Garrett, and Ann Wilkerson <br /> <br />GUEST: None <br /> <br />BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MEMBER S ABSENT : Earl McKee and Chris Barnes <br /> <br />STAFF PRESENT: Lindsey Shewmaker, Social Services Director; Crystal M. Wiese, Assistant Director; Sharron <br />Hinton, Assistant Director; Rebekah Rapoza, Fiscal Operations Manager; and Lakecia Robbins, Program <br />Manager <br /> <br />I. Call to Order and Introductions <br /> <br />DSS Chair, Oscar Fleming, called the meeting to order at 4:04 pm. <br /> <br />II. Board Comments <br /> <br />None. <br /> <br />III. Public Comments <br /> <br />None. <br /> <br />IV. Agenda Changes <br /> <br />None. <br /> <br />V. Action Items <br /> <br />On a motion by Jane Garrett, the Board approved the meeting minutes from July 21, 2025. Ann <br />Wilkerson seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent. <br /> <br />VI. Items for Discussion and/or Decision <br /> <br />1. Guardianship Overview and Discussion <br />Kim Fisher, Adult Services Supervisor, provided an overview of the guardianship program. This is a <br />mandated service under Chapter 35A and occurs when authority is given over decision making of <br />an individual who has been determined incompetent. Criteria for guardianship to be given over an <br />adult is that they lack capacity to manage their affairs due to a mental health diagnosis, senility, <br />and/or intellectual disability. Per statute, family and friends are the first option to be guardian, <br />followed by corporations, and lastly is Social Services. There are three types of guardianship: <br />person (medical, dental, etc.), estate (finances), and general (manages person and estate). <br />Guardianship is an invasive procedure where lots of personal information is gathered and then <br />discussed in open court to make a decision. Guardianship can be short -term, long-term, or interim <br />(e.g. a medical emergency), and may also be limited in what rights are taken away. On an annual <br />basis, we are required to submit a report to the clerk of court and answer whether guardianship is <br />still needed or if rights can be restored (some or all) and if DSS is still the right entity. <br /> <br /> <br />