B012506
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES
MINUTES
January 25, 2006
The New Hanover County Board of Social Services met in open session on Wednesday,
January 25, 9:00 a.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the New Hanover County Department
of Social Services.
ATTENDING: Frankie Roberts, Chairman; Bill Caster, Vice Chairman;
Ann Pitts; John Craig; F. Wayne Morris
ALSO ATTENDING: LaVaughn Nesmith, Secretary to the Board; Stephanie Monteath,
Assistant to the Director
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Mr. Roberts moved to approve the
agenda. The motion was seconded by Mr. Caster and passed unanimously. Mrs. Pitts
delivered the invocation and Mr. Caster led the pledge of allegiance.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mr. Caster moved for approval of the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Mr.
Craig and passed unanimously.
INFORMATION AGENDA
Service Awards
Lynn Neenan, Angela Poirier, and Katherine Spivey were recognized for 5 years of
service. John Blume and Pat Jessup were recognized for 15 years of service.
Personnel Change Report
Stephanie Monteath introduced new employee: Frances Caston who was not in
attendance.
Promotions
There were no promotions for the month of December.
SSDI
Mr. Nesmith noted that there were fewer reports of abuse/neglect in December. Also, the
Medicaid enrollment is up which is a positive indicator. Mr. Nesmith explained
• qualifiers for families enrolling in Medicaid. Mr. Caster queried about people who turn
down insurance that their work place offers who apply for Medicaid. Liz Schulz
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January 25, 2006
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i explained that the cost of work place insurance for the employee can be extraordinarily
high and that Medicaid is very liberal with the requirements for Children's Medicaid.
Budget Expenditures
Mr. Oxendine reviewed the Budget Expenditures. The state gave a poor estimate for
Special Assistance for adults. As a result, the agency is running over budget there. A
reallocation for daycare was received however the budget will still run 8% over. The
energy assistance program has been given extra funds as the state is still expecting a very
cold winter. It appears that the energy assistance budget is already at 100% but the new
funds have not been added to the current total.
Mr. Nesmith expounded on Day Care. The agency was hoping for a larger amount of
attrition per month. With the amount received, the Day Care budget will still have a
$400,000.00 deficit. Foster Care is under budget so some of those funds may be able to
be transferred to Day Care. As well, Mr. Nesmith is still hoping for a revert of State
funds. The waiting list has been over 300 this entire fiscal year. Ms. Vincent explained
that a letter was sent to everyone on the waiting list explaining that they should contact
their legislator and gave them the address. The state may be unhappy about this.
Mr. Morris asked if the Child Advocacy Report Card is state wide or county wide. Ms.
• McNamee said it is state wide and they no longer report county by county.
STRATEGIC ACTION AGENDA
Leading by Results Indicator Update - IV-E Waiver
Ms. McNamee handed out the 2006 Poverty Guide Lines and updated Leading by Results
packets.
Ms. McNamee gave a brief history of IV-E Waiver explaining that New Hanover County
DSS is part of a pilot project aimed at creating permanency for children (either by
assisting children currently in Foster Care or keeping children out of Foster Care by
providing services to the entire family).
Ms. Marino discussed strategies the agency is using to move forward with IV-E Waiver.
The agency contracted with Methodist Home to provide Family Preservation Services
and Family Reunification Services. As well, Methodist Home provides services to Foster
Parents, to aid in stabilizing the placement and provide support through a mediator or
counselor available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Mr. Nesmith added that the contract
with Methodist Home is performance based. Ms. Marino shared some statistics about
families who have received services from Methodist Home.
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January 25, 2006
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Kari Sanders talked about assisted guardianship. This is another service that can provide
permanence for children. With Assisted Guardianship, the guardian receives a monthly
cash payment to provide a stable environment for the child until the child reaches age 18.
Another IV-E Waiver program is the Child and Family Team Meetings facilitated
through the Mediation Center of the Lower Cape Fear.
Ms. Sanders also discussed the plan to contract with a lawyer using IV-E Waiver funds to
assist with Termination of Parental Rights (TPR). A TPR is necessary for children to be
eligible for adoption. The agency currently has a backlog of TPR. There are currently 37
children waiting for a TPR whom the court determined adoption is the most appropriate
course of action. Ms. Talbutt explained that an appeal can hold up a TPR for at least 18
months.
Ms. McNamee explained how IV-E Waiver relates to our Leading by Results report card.
The state said that we are exceeding the goals they set for the agency of children in 2 or
fewer placements and on target for the goal of children moving into permanence in less
than 12 months. We are not meeting our adoption goal, which reiterates the need for the
legal contract.
Mr. Oxendine shared the fiscal benefits of IV-E Waiver. The county pays 18% of the
cost of care for IV-E Waiver children and the difference in the money the state would
provide can then be reinvested in services for children. In 2009, the Federal Government
• will decide whether IV-E Waiver money will be granted to the state to continue this
proj ect.
NEXT MEETING OBJECTIVES
Budget Retreat - It was decided to eliminate the February 22, 2006 meeting and have the
Board Meeting/Retreat on March 3, 2006 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
BOARD SELF EVALUATION
The board completed self evaluations.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
Mr. Nesmith asked that the board approve the renewal of the Child Support Contract with
Dyntek. Mr. Caster moved to approve this request. The motion was seconded by Mr.
Roberts and passed unanimously.
Mr. Roberts moved to go into Executive Session as provided in G.C. 143-318.11 to
consider information that is confidential pursuant to G.S. 108A-80 and/or G.S. 154A-98.
• The Board returned to open session at 11:05 a.m. Mr. Roberts moved to adjourn the
meeting and the motion passed unanimously. Meeting was adjourned at 11:06 a.m.
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January 25, 2006
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•
Re pectfu s
LaVaughn Nesmith
Secretary to the Board
rankie Roberts
Chairman
Date approved: .
LN: scm
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