B03202012 New Hanover County
• Board of Social Services
Meeting Minutes
Multipurpose Room A
I0:00a.m. — 11:00 a.m.
The New Hanover County Board of Social Services met in open session on Tuesday. March 20.
2012 at 10:00 in Multipurpose Room A of the New Hanover County Department of Social
Services
ATTENDING: John Craig. Chairman: Patrick Riley. Vice Chairman: Evelyn Bryant: Diana
Woolley
ALSO ATTENDING: LaVaughn Nesmith. Secretary to the Board: Stephanie Monteath.
Administrative Support Specialist
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Mr. Craig asked for a motion to approve
the agenda. Mr. Patrick moved for approval of the agenda. The motion was seconded by Ms.
Bryant and passed unanimously.
Ms. Bryant led the invocation.
Mr. Riley led the pledge of allegiance.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mr. Craig asked for a motion to approve the consent agenda. Mr. Riley moved to approve the
consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Ms. Woolley and passed unanimously.
INFORMATION AGENDA
Ms. Woolley asked about the process of replacing separated positions. Two of those cannot he
filled until an appeal period has passed. The two new positions will not be filled until the
County Commissioners approve the budget for 2012-2013.
Ms. Woolley noted the number of emergency financial assistance applications have risen
significantly. Ms. Marino explained that many applications came into the agency for assistance
as Low Income Energy Assistance money was available. However. the applications are still
coming in steadily due to the state of the economy. Mr. Riley asked what happened with DSS
coordinating with Cape Fear Public Utility Authority. Mr. Nesmith and Angelina Bernard
discussed the upcoming telethon to raise money for the community in need. Ms. Woolley would
like to see statistics in SSDI for a 6 month period as opposed to a year to year number. Ms.
Woolley asked if the agency could look at the top 5 programs experiencing growth and analyze
why that is happening.
Ms. Marino noted DSS will be taking over guardianship for Mental Health. Health Department
and all other disinterested public agencies which will increase caseloads tremendously. It is
anticipated that an additional worker will he needed for that program as recommended
guardianship caseloads are I worker per 22 cases. Patricia Robinson was asked to track funds
and caseloads for guardianship as this takes place.
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Ms. Woolley noted that the Medicaid cases per case worker are tremendous (over 600 cases per
worker) with no state recommendation on acceptable caseload size. Karen Graham explained the
S budget expenditures.
Mr. Nesmith reported on the 35 people who potentially erroneously received disaster food
assistance. None of those people were County employees. There was discussion about where
the money will he recouped. such as tax intercept etc.
Ms. Woolley asked Assistant County Manager Chris Coudriet to remind County Manager Bruce
Shell that he agreed to unfreeze 3 frozen DSS positions. Ms. Woolley would like those positions
unfrozen by April 15`x'. 2012 as he is retiring in June 2012. Mr. Coudriet agreed to pass that on
to Mr. Shell.
The Director's monthly letter to the Board was reviewed.
No action was taken by the Board.
STRATEGIC ACTION AGENDA
Program Integrity Investigations
John Ranalli explained that Program Integrity tracks recovery of funds by taking the amount
collected compared to the remaining debt balance to get an accurate view of collections.
Strategically the unit reviewed the way they approach clients with over issuance to improve
• willingness to comply with repayment. retroactively eliminating had debt and using technology
to better communicate with State and Local systems.
Program Integrity Recovery Efforts
John Ranalli discussed the strategics used that have been really effective such as analyzing
caseloads and making adjustments to assignments. cross training staff and changing the referral
process. As well, the unit revised community education programs and streamlined the referral
process so that Program Integrity can receive referrals more quickly.
It is currently tax intercept time so recovery money is coming in now and some of it may show
up as revenue in Food and Nutrition Assistance.
Foster Care Driving Policy
Wanda Marino and Brian Bocnuk presented the fester care driving policy. The policy was
reviewed by the New Hanover County's Risk Management office and DSS staff incorporated
their suggestions into the presented draft policy. It is recommended that DSS will look at each
potential driving youth on a case by case basis. Mr. Riley moved to approve the policy. The
motion was seconded by Ms. Bryant and passed unanimously.
Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation
Mr. Riley read the Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation. Ms. Woolley moved to support
the Child Abuse Prevention Proclamation. The motion was seconded by Mr. Riley and passed
unanimously. Ms. Marino invited the Board to the flower launch in April.
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Next Meeting Objectives
• Annual Percentage of Fully Automated Programs Challenge
Annual Percentage of Vacancies Filled within 40 Working Days Achievement
Additional Items
Director Nesmith will draft a recruitment letter for DSS Board applicants to be placed in the
media by May 2012. The Board will need to review applications and elect a replacement for Mr.
Craig at the June meeting.
As there were no further 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 hoard by consensus
adjourned at 11 :08 a.m.
Respectful] submitted,
tea, 1 •
LaVauhn Nesmith.
Secretary to the Board
`John E. Craig.
Chainrian
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