B050509
New Hanover County
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,
May 5, 2009 at 9:00 in Multi Purpose Room A of the New Hanover County Department
of Social Services.
ATTENDING: John Craig, Chairman; Bill Caster, Vice-Chairman; Minerva Glidden,
Patrick Riley and Evelyn Bryant
ALSO ATTENDING: LaVaughn Nesmith, Secretary to the Board; Stephanie Monteath,
Administrative Support Specialist
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:09 a.m. Mr. Caster moved for approval of
the agenda. The motion was seconded by Ms.Glidden and passed unanimously.
Mr. Caster led the invocation. Ms. Bryant led the pledge of allegiance.
CONSENT AGENDA
Ms. Glidden moved for approval of the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by
Mr. Caster and passed unanimously.
INFORMATION AGENDA
Personnel
Stephanie Monteath noted there were no new hires or promotions in April. Six
employees left due to the Early Retirement Incentive Package.
Service Awards
Tiffany Bickel, Joan Briggs, Beth Jones, Stephanie Monteath and Holly Yeager were
recognized for 5 years of service to New Hanover County. Pam Nelson and Cindy Reed
were recognized for 15 years of service to New Hanover County. Celeste Chadwick and
Sheila Merritt were recognized for 20 years of service to New Hanover County. Jerry
Brim was recognized for 25 years of service to New Hanover County.
SSDI
Mr. Caster noted there are so many more people coming in to receive service than there
were in 2008. Mr. Caster also asked for clarification about Foster Care numbers.
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County Budget Expenditures
Mr. Caster asked for an explanation of TANF/DV funds. TANF stands for temporary
assistance for needy families. Celeste Chadwick works closely with the Domestic
Violence shelter to make sure funds are not being overspent or duplicated. Mr. Craig
asked what the Crisis Intervention Funds were used for. Mr. Lane and Ms. McNamee
explained that money is used solely for energy needs, heating in the winter and cooling in
the summer. Mr. Riley asked for clarification about the WFFA (Work First Family
Assistance) amount. Ms. McNamee explained that money was being held incase DSS
goes over a line item amount, such as Foster Care.
Director's Executive Report
Mr. Nesmith invited the board to the Fatherhood Conference May 30, 2009 at the First
Baptist Activity Center and the Foster Care Picnic May 16, 2009. Mr. Craig asked about
the Child Support incentive money. Mr. Nesmith explained that what was once
considered to be supplanting is now called incentive money and will be available to use
until 2010.
STRATEGIC ACTION AGENDA
Multiple Response System Update
Wanda Marino introduced Gail Walker and Jacqueline Jones and gave a brief history into
the conception of the Multiple Response System. Originally, there was just one track to
investigating child abuse which was forensic. This track often led to children being
removed from their home as family schedules and needs were not taken into
consideration. Forensic tracks are still in place for serious protective service cases, such
as sex abuse, and DSS works closely with law enforcement in those cases.
Multiple Response System, (MRS) may be used for cases of neglect. Eighty eight
percent of all child protective service reports are neglect cases. MRS takes a "family
centered" approach. When an allegation of abuse is made, DSS has 24 hours to make
contact with all children in the family and conduct a safety assessment. Ms. Jones
reviewed Senate Bill 1005-2001 Appropriation Act of North Carolina General Assembly.
This bill prevents DSS from walking into a home to assess and/or investigate unless the
following are in place: reasonable belief that a juvenile is in imminent danger of death or
serious physical injury, permission of the parent or person responsible for the juvenile's
care, the accompaniment of law enforcement officer who has legal authority to enter the
residence, or an order from a court of competent jurisdiction. Social Workers are
required to receive training on family centered practices and state and federal law
regarding the basic rights of individuals including the right to privacy, freedom from
duress and coercion to induce cooperation and the right to parent.
Ms. Walker reviewed the seven strategies of MRS: redesign of in-home services; strength
based, structured intake process; coordination between law enforcement agencies and
child protective services for the investigative approach; choice of two approaches to
reports of child abuse, neglect, or dependency; implementation of Shared-Parenting
meetings in placement cases; implementation of Child and Family Team Meetings
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(conducted by the ADR Center -mediation center) during the provision of in-home
services; collaboration between Work First Family Assistance and Child Welfare. MRS
attempts to keep families in tact by looking for a family's strengths and finding supports
in the community (family members, church members etc.), this has drastically reduced
the number of children placed in Foster Care. Mr. Nesmith reiterated that every family
has strengths. Ms. Glidden asked if Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is used in this process
noting that really the child should be at the center of the process. Ms. Talbutt explained
that GAL is not used unless a petition is filed in court. Ms. Walker noted that GAL
participates in Child and Family Team meetings. All agreed the Child and Family Team
Meetings are a very positive process.
Next Meeting Objectives
Child Support Contract Update
Fatherhood Expo Update
Family Find Presentation
Emergency Action Plan for DSS
Board Self Evaluation
The Board completed self evaluations.
Additional Items
Mr. Nesmith noted that all additional staff requested in the budget were denied. The
lobby renovations are currently still included in the agency budget.
As there were no other additional items to discuss as provided in G.S. 154A-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 10:04 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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LaVaughn Nesmith,
Secretary to the Board
ohn E. Craig,
Chairman
LN:scm
B05509