B071107
New Hanover County
Board of Social Services
Minutes
July 11, 2007
The New Hanover County Board of Social Services met in open session on Wednesday,
July 11, 2007 at 9:00 in the Multipurpose Room A of the New Hanover County
Department of Social Services.
ATTENDING: Frankie Roberts; Bill Caster; John Craig; Wayne Morris; Ann Pitts;
Minerva Glidden
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. Craig moved to approve
agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Mr. Caster and passed unanimously.
Mr. Caster delivered the invocation and Mr. Morris led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. Caster moved to approve the minutes from June 13, 2007. The motion was seconded
by Mr. Craig and passed unanimously.
• Mr. Nesmith presented a service plaque to Frankie Roberts. Mr. Roberts gave a farewell
statement and the meeting was adjourned by consensus.
Stephanie Monteath, Notary Public administered the oath of office to Ms. Minerva
Glidden. Ms. Glidden was appointed by the North Carolina State Social Services
Commission to replace outgoing board member Frankie Roberts whose term expired July
2007.
Mr. Caster called the meeting to order at 9:08 a.m. Mr. Craig motioned to elect Mrs. Pitts
the new Chairman of the Board. The motion was seconded by Mr. Morris and passed
unanimously. Mr. Craig motioned to keep Mr. Caster as Vice-Chairman of the Board.
The motion was seconded by Mrs. Pitts and passed unanimously.
The Board Meeting schedule was proposed and established. Mr. Craig moved that the
board meet the second Tuesday of each month. The motion was seconded by Mr. Morris
and passed unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA
There were no further items for consent on the agenda.
INFORMATION AGENDA
• New Hires
Stephanie Monteath recognized Neely Poelling as a new Social Worker in Children's
Services. Edna Pollock was recognized as a new Administrative Support Technician in
the Food Stamp pod.
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® SSDI
Sam Lane explained the "zero children served" in Smart Start as due to other funding
sources being used in May 2007. Ann Barkley explained what constitutes Adult Day
Care.
County Budget Expenditures
Carol Thiel reviewed county budget expenditures and explained color coding. Mr.
Nesmith noted the Child Care Subsidy fiscal year ends in May. Child Care Subsidy
expenses run higher in the summer as school is out.
Adopted Budget FY07-08
It was noted DSS was granted 4 new social work positions but no Attorney. Mr. Nesmith
reviewed the Market and Merit process.
Attapersons
Board reviewed attapersons.
STRATEGIC/ACTION AGENDA
® IV-E Waiver Update
Mr. Nesmith apologized for being absent for the June Board Meeting as he attended a
meeting concerning IV-E Waiver paybacks. The county is being tasked with paying back
IV-E Waiver money used back from December 2006.
Kari Sanders reviewed the goals and successes of the IV-E Waiver project. Methodist
Home for Children provided Family Preservation Services enabling 90% of children to
remain at home as opposed to being transferred to Foster Care; Family Reunification
Services enabling 69% of children to be reunified with their birth family. Foster Parent
Support was provided by Methodist Home to decrease the number of placements while in
custody. Assisted Guardianship provided an alternative to adoption for older foster
children in need of permanence. Ms. Sanders also shared successes of the ADR Center
and Legal Contract Attorneys. Custody numbers have dramatically lowered as a result of
participating in the IV-E Waiver Project.
Carol Thiel discussed the original time line of the IV-E Waiver project. Thirty-eight
counties participated in the pilot which encouraged flexibility of IV-E funds but required
cost neutrality. New Hanover County remained cost neutral but as the State, as a whole,
was not cost neutral, was required to find alternate funding sources for IV-E Waiver
expenditures from December 31, 2006 through the end of May. NHCDSS was
contractually obligated to give any vendors 30 day notice for termination of contract.
® The State is willing to pay for Assisted Guardianship fro the months of July and August
and will discuss with counties the possibility of continued funding. The Family
Preservation and Reunification services through Methodist Home will continue by
cancelling a current contract with Methodist Home for residential care and using that
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funding for in-home services. TANF funding will be used to continue services through
the ADR center. NHCDSS is also looking into funding for Legal Assistance Contracts.
Next Meeting Objectives
Food Stamp Guidelines
Board Self Evaluation
Board Self Evaluations were completed.
Additional Items
Mr. Caster requested the board enter closed session 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 motion was seconded by Mr. Craig and passed unanimously. The Board entered
closed session at 9:58 a.m.
The Board returned to open session at 10:14 a.m.
At the request of Mr. Caster Ms. Glidden talked about her background and her service to
the public. Ms. Glidden helped start the Rape Crisis Center in Wilmington; worked for
® League of Women Voters; is a trained nurse; is Latina by birth and Spanish is her first
language. Ms. Glidden worked in Missouri as a registered lobbyist. She is a Quaker and
sits on the National Friends Board. As well, Ms. Glidden serves as Chair of Voces Latina
and works Wednesdays at the Tileston Clinic as a nurse interpreter.
There being no further business the Board by consensus adjourned at 10:17 a.m.
Respectfull submitted,
LaVaughn Nesmith
Secretary to the Board
Ann Pitts
Chairman
~C.~
Date approved:
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