B010510
New Hanover Countv
Board of Social Services
Meeting Minutes
:Multi Purpose Room A
9:00a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
The New Hanover County Board of Social Services met in open session on Tuesday.
January 5. 2010 at 9:00 in Multi Purpose Room A of the New Hanover County
Department of Social Services.
ATTENDING: John Craig, Chairman: Minerva Glidden. Vice-Chairman: Bill Caster:
Patrick Rilev and Eveltin Bryant
ALSO ATTENDING: LaVauohn Nesmith. Secretary to the Board: Stephanie Monteath.
Administrative Support Specialist
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Ms. Glidden moved for approval
of the agenda. The motion was seconded by Mr. Caster and passed unanimously.
Mr. Caster led the invocation. Mr. Riley led the pledge of allegiance.
CONSENT AGENDA
Ms. Glidden moved for approval of the consent agenda. The motion vyas passed
unanimously.
INFORMATION AGENDA
Personnel
Stephanie Monteath recognized new staff. Jamie Cavenaugh. Family and Children's
Medicaid Caseworker: Mary Cantu. Temporary Economic Services Caseworker:
Katharine George. Administrative Support Assistant: and Christopher Dwy. CPS Social
Worker.
Promotions
Agency promotions were recognized. Julie Steinbeck was promoted to Children
Service's Chief. Lori Harvey %yas promoted to Family and Children's Medicaid
Supervisor and Susie Stanislaw was promoted to Child Protective Services Social
Worker.
Service Awards
Karl Sanders celebrates her > year service anniversary. Paula Marn celebrates Iler 1 ~ year
service anniversary, and Jeannie Henderson and Miranda Pearce celebrate their 20 v°ear
service anniversary.
SSDI
Mr. Caster asked for clarification on several acronyms. There were no other questions or
comments.
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County Budget Expenditures
Mr. Caster asked if the county had received additional money for Dav Care Subsidy. The
latest budget amendment was the second installment of ARRA funding and did not
increase the anticipated allocation for child care. Child care subsidy expenditures are
being carefully monitored and children currently receiving subside may need to be
terminated from service if spending levels do not decrease adequately due to attrition.
Children will have to be cut from the subsidy list in "reverse priority based on the
agency's current child care waiting list and termination police.
Chris McNamee explained the pilot wherein Day Care Subsidy would be applied to an
EBT (electronic benefit transfer) card that would also serve to track day care attendance.
We need to learn how to continue to monitor allocations with this system. New Hanover
County has been selected as one of the five pilot counties.
Director's Executive Report
Mr. Nesmith updated the Board on the lobby renovations. Chris Coudriet explained that
some of the cost for renovations could be absorbed by Property Mana,_,ement. such as
sprinklers. The new bids should be in to the project manager Max Maxwell by December
6. 2010. The front doors will need to be replaced as there is more traffic usinu, the doors
than the contractor anticipated.
Ms. Glidden asked what system is now in place since the flex time system is no longcr.
Mr. Nesmith talked about a study done by other counties notin(-, the flex time system vy as
not effective. He hopes a new system will be in place by March to which will decrease
wait time and implement best practice. With the growth seen by the agency coupled ~yitlh
the loss of staff. flex time was no longer functioning well.
STRATEGIC ACTION AGENDA
Adult Services Update
DSS is meeting their Leading By Results goal for aped and disabled adults living, in safe
and least restrictive settings. The area of weakness for this unit is trying to get families
and disinterested public agents to serve as guardians for the aged and disabled population.
As a result. DSS continues to serve as guardian for a large group of people. Challenges
that need to be addressed include a 48.8% increase in New Hanover County's population
of people over age 65 between 1990 and 2007 and a decrease in resources due to the
economic crisis. Mental Health reform has also proven to be a challenge due to the
deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill with few or no community resources and ycry
little economic assistance. Lastly. an increasing number of children in Foster Care «ho
are out" (turning 18) are also served by the Adult Services relit.
Ms. Sprenger talked about monitoring nursing homes and facilities. Currently most of
the facilities are earning very high star ratings. An emphasis has been placed on
preventing repeat maltreatment which was a problem a few years ago when nursing
0 homes were in the neeys every week. Ms. Sprenger explained SA In-Home funds. These
funds assist people to live in their own home with supports. These funds are a real cost
saving strategy and enables folks to live in the --least restrictive environment". yrs.
Sprenger handed out some brochures about guardianship. DSS is promoting shared
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Ya(-y e 3 of guardianship and asking the clerk of court to appoint other disinterested public agencies
such as the Health Department. Mental IIealth and the Department of Aging in an effort
to take some of the burden off of DSS. No other parties have been appointed guardian as
of vet. but great strides have been made. DSS has offered training for other agencies to
help prepare them for successful transition into the role of guardian. Ms. McNamee
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noted that while all the services are mandated for Adult Services. it is the least funded
program in the agency. Ms. Glidden asked if the PACE program was helping with
anything. Ms. Sprenger and Ms. Smiley said that while it was going very well and
helped to keep people out of facilities and nursing homes. it doesn't lift a huge burden off
of DSS and only people receiving full Medicaid can enroll in the program. '\Is. Bryant
asked about Medicaid At-Risk. Ms. Marino said it is money available for an adult who is
Medicaid eligible and is at risk of being neglected or abused. The money is used to set
up services such as health supports. Unfortunately, most people needing these services do
not meet the income requirements needed to receive Medicaid.
Additional Items
Wanda Marino thanked Ms. Bryant for attending the Foster Care skating party.
Sam Lane took a minute to thank Mr. Nesmith for the opportunity to serve the Lconomic
Service Division in the agency and say farewell to the Board as he will he retiring this
month. Mr. Nesmith thanked Sam Lane. Mary John Brantley and Kathi Heslin for all
their hard work as well.
Next Meeting Objectives
Communication and Outreach Efforts
Renovation ['pdate
Organizational Flow Chart
Annual Report
Board Self Evaluation
The Board completed self evaluations.
As there were no further items to discuss as provided in G.S. I 54A-98 to consider
information that is confidential pursuant to G.S. 108A-80 and or G.S. 154A-98. the board
by consensus adjourned at 10:14 a.m.
Respectfully submitted.
o .
LaVaughn Nesmith.
Secretarv to the Board
John E. Craig.
Chairman
Date approved:
LN: scm
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