B113005
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES
MINUTES
NOVEMBER 30, 2005
The New Hanover County Board of Social Services met in open session on Wednesday,
November 30, 2005, 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
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. Caster moved to approve the
agenda. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Pitts 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 Mrs.
Pitts and passed unanimously.
Mr. Nesmith proposed moving the December 21, 2005 board meeting time to 10:00 a.m.
to accommodate the Christmas Luncheon. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Pitts and
passed unanimously.
INFORMATION AGENDA
Service Awards
Mr. Nesmith asked that the board members join him to hand out Service Awards from the
State of North Carolina. Betty Robinson and James Oxendine were recognized for 20
years of services. Julia Talbutt and Ophelia Dixon were recognized for 25 years of
service. Karen Vincent accepted a service award on behalf of Martha Stein who recently
retired.
Robin Johnson was recognized for 5 years of service by New Hanover County.
Personnel Change Report
Stephanie Monteath introduced new employees: Merry Byers, Hope Pearce and Johnette
Cook.
Minutes
November 30, 2005
Page 2 of 4
r Promotions
Amanda Lamkin was recognized for her promotion from an Economic Services
Caseworker to an Economic Services Supervisor in Food Stamps.
Significant Service Delivery Indicators (SSDI) for October 2005
The number of children in DSS custody has risen again. The agency has seen a growing
number of reports involving Hispanic families. Mr. Caster requested that, if possible,
data be presented in context (per 1,000 residents, etc.).
Mrs. Steinbeck reported on the background checks required of foster family recruits.
Mrs. Marino reported that the correct number of licensed foster homes for the month of
October is 111 not 11.
Budget Expenditures
Mr. Oxendine reviewed the Budget Expenditures. He explained that due to the energy
crisis, we will receive an addition allocation of CIP funds to assist with energy bills. The
exact amount available for New Hanover County will be known in December 2005. .
Mr. Oxendine explained that the state under budgeted for our county in funding for Adult
• Day Care and Health.
Day Care Update
Mr. Nesmith explained that we must get our spending coefficient down to or below 120%
by the end of the year. He feels sure we will drop to that percentage by the end of
November. Mr. Nesmith shared that 342 people are still on the waiting list for Day Care.
He went on to explain the various numbers of people who were dropped from Day Care
services; 194 did not return their quarterly reports, 178 people did not pay their co-pay
and 251 people did not turn in their paperwork. Mrs. Vincent explained that before the
day care crisis, people who turned in their paperwork late could come in the next month
and be put right back on the list. Now, if they turn in their paperwork late, they end up
placed on the waiting list. Ms. Schulz gave a number of scenarios as to why clients may
not return their paperwork or pay their co-pay.
Mr. Nesmith explained how DSS may be able to tap into IV-E waiver funds to subsidize
child care for foster children or children receiving prevention services. Mr. Oxendine
explained how foster children who were receiving 50% funding from the county are now
using IV-E waiver money and the county only spends 18% funding for these children.
The IV-E waiver stipulation is that the remaining (saved) county money still be spent in
the foster care program. Mrs. Marino shared that some of the IV-E money is used for
contracts. For example, DSS contracts with Methodist Home to provide family
•
Minutes
November 30, 2005
Page 3 of 4
preservation services which help keep children at home instead of placing them in foster
care. As well, DSS uses IV-E waiver money for family reunification and assisted
guardianship, which helps children obtain permanency with long term foster parents.
NC Fast Update
Chris McNamee reported on a State automation initiative, NC Fast. She explained how
NC Fast will help to store and retrieve current and historical case information across all
DSS programs state-wide. New Hanover County is piloting the Service Delivery
Interface portion of NC Fast which will improve our efficiency by eliminating dual entry
of data into both our local and the state systems.
STRATEGIC ACTION AGENDA
Leading by Results Indicator Update - Medicaid
Christine McNamee and Karen Vincent reviewed the Leading by Results indicator for
Medicaid. The result for this indicator is: Children, families and adults will become
economically secure. As of January 2006, all children from 0-5 enrolled in Health
Choice will be switched over to Medicaid. Mrs. Vincent reviewed strategies used to
increase participation in the Medicaid Program. People are now able to mail in
applications for Medicaid and Health Choice, bi-lingual information has been made
available to outreach programs, child care providers and health fairs. Liz Schulz then
explained Medicaid Part D. Ms. Schulz shared that a power point presentation explaining
Medicaid benefits is available for clients daily. She also reviewed the various challenges
this program faces, including inadequate numbers of health care professionals accepting
Medicaid, a growing aging population, a growing general population and the increase in
uninsured people nationwide and in our county. She lastly explained that due to these
challenges, it is especially troublesome that so many children in January 2006 will need
Medicaid services.
Appointment of Board Member to Health Department Fatality Committee
Mr. Craig volunteered to be on the Health Department Fatality Committee. Mr. Caster
moved for his appointment. Mr. Roberts seconded the motion.
NEXT MEETING OBJECTIVES
The agenda item for the December meeting will be Leading by Results - Identified
Resources Needed to move Objectives.
Minutes
November 30, 2005
Page 4 of 4
BOARD SELF-EVALUATION
Each member of the Board completed the self-evaluation.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
Gingerbread Tree
Julie Steinbeck explained the Gingerbread Tree Christmas present project. There were
no questions.
Closed Session
Mr. Roberts moved to enter closed session as provided in G.S. 143-318.11, to consider
information that is confidential pursuant to G.S. 108A-80 and/or G.S. 154A-98. The
motion was seconded by Mr. Caster and passed unanimously. The Board entered closed
session at 10:27 a.m.
The Board returned to open session at 11:40 a.m. There being no further business the
Board by consensus adjourned.
• Respect ly submi
C;~~o
LaVaughn Nesmith
Secretary to the Board
rankie Roberts
C airman
Date approved:
LN:scm
B113005