B09182012 New Hanover County
Board of Social Services
Meeting Minutes
Multi Purpose Room A
I0:00a.m. — 11:00 a.m.
The NeW Hanover County Board of Social Services met in open session on Tuesday.
September IS. 2012 at 10:00 in Multi Purpose Room A of the New Hanover County
Department of Social Services.
ATTENDING: Patrick Riley. Chairman: Evelyn Bryant. Vice Chairman: Diana
Woolley and Jonathan Barfield Junior
ALSO ATTENDING: LaVaughn Nesmith. Secretary to the Board: Stephanie
Monteath. Assistant to the Director
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 10:09 a.m. Mr. Riley asked for a motion
to approve the agenda. Ms. Woolley moved for approval of the agenda. The motion
was seconded by Ms. Bryant passed unanimously.
Ms. Bryant led the invocation. Ms. Bryant led the pledge of allegiance.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mr. Riley asked for a motion to approve the consent agenda. Ms. Woolley moved to
approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by Ms. Bryant and passed
unanimously.
INFORMATION AGENDA
Ms. Woolley asked if there really were 100 children placed in custody since February
2012. Ms. Sanders noted that the number was accurate. Ms. Woolley asked if the
children out of DSS supervision had just aged out. Mr. Bocnuk responded that
children leaving custody either aged out. were reunited with parents, placed with
relatives or were adopted. Ms. Woolley asked if there were any cyclical trends in
Adult Protective Services. Ms. Marino noted the only trend is the number of both
APS reports and Guardianship cases continue to increase. Ms. Woolley asked if the
number of walk in visits was accurate as the numbers seemed so high. Ms. Marino
confirmed that 1 9.000 walk-ins year to date meant a monthly average of about 1 0.000
which was about par for the course.
Karen Graham reviewed the County Budget Expenditures. There will be a reduction
in revenue of approximately S95.000.00 in Work First block grant money. Director
Nesmith feels the State may pick up the deficit. Commissioner Barfield asked if it
would be better to get money consistently throughout the year instead of waiting for
the State to make up the difference at the end of the year. Director Nesmith feels
nothing will be done until allocations come in after the close out of the previous fiscal
year
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Ms. Woolley asked about Adult Services item 2A (Low Income Tax Benefit). Ms.
Graham explained that is a capped revenue source to assist seniors with paving for
their County property taxes.
Ms. Woolley asked if there was any news of consolidation. Ms. Pinder noted there
has not been discussion about consolidation at this point but both Boards would be
included in the discussion should it arise. Commissioner Barfield added the main
goal of the County Commission was to bring the Health and Social Services
Department Heads under the supervision of the County Manager and that has been
accomplished.
No action was taken by the Board.
STRATEGIC ACTION AGENDA
Adoption Awareness Proclamation
Chairman Riley read the proclamation. A motion to support the proclamation was
made by Commissioner Bartield. The motion was seconded by Ms. Woollen and
passed unanimously.
Non-Emergency Medicaid Transportation
Ms. Marino discussed the possibility of a broker for non-emergency Medicaid
transportation. On October 15'x' a proposal will be presented to the legislative
oversight committee. It appears that DHHS would like a brokerage system. There is
discussion about the possibility of state wide oversight with regional contracts. An
automated log from Cox and Company is being developed to track trips and service.
Commissioner Bartield feels that WAVE Transit may be able to transition into this
directive pretty easily. A new mandate that DMA must see proof that doctors offices
accept Medicaid before Medicaid Transportation can be provided to their office has
become some What of an obstacle. These changes are the result of an audit
conducted back in 2007. Ms. Woolley asked how the Board could support DSS with
these changes. Director Nesmith yielded to Assistant County Manager Pinder who
explained this is a wait and see period and DSS is working closely with the
Commissioners to be proactive. Commissioner Bartield noted there are
representatives from New Hanover County working to lobby the legislative agenda in
Raleigh.
Subsidized Child Care Business Plan to Address Budget Shortfall
Commissioner Barfield commented he liked the child care interview' on the news and
liked the diversity of the people interviewed as they did not tit the stereotypical mold
that is out there.
Christine McNamee discussed the plight of Child Care Subsidy explaining that in the
spring of last year the State Division of Child Development and Early Education
encouraged counties to offer time limited subsidies to children on the waiting list.
Although we had hoped that we could extend the Time limited vouchers indefinitely.
due to our current spending co-efficient. termination letters are going to be sent out to
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families as the State has notified us that there is no plan to allocate additional funds.
The time limited children will be removed first and then we will tollovy the Service
Reduction policy approved by the NHC Board of Social Services last fiscal rear.
Director Nesmith noted that despite the agency's attempts to reduce children
receiving subsidy. mandated programs continue to add about 100 children per month
to the subsidy caseloads.
Mary John Brantley noted the Child Care unit is conducting quarterly reviews. It is
mandated a review he conducted annually but the agency finds that peoples lives
and situations change more often than that. While this creates additional work for
staff it keeps eligible children from being cut when other children can be cut from the
program due to circumstances in their family's lives. The agency predicts there will
be more children left unattended so parents can work which may create neglect
reports. Ms. Woolley noted subsidised child care was the number one issue for the
Community Child Protection Team this past year and asked Commissioner Barfield
what could be done. Commissioner Barfield suggested she phone the other tour
Commissioners and talk to them. Ms. Pinder asked if the agency could contact
vendors to ask if they would be willing to he paid a reduced rate. Director Nesmith
said the State would not allow that. S 1 2 million dollars is the amount needed to
sustain the current caseloads until June 2013.
Child Support Incentive Waiver for the Fatherhood Program
Christine McNamee talked about the fatherhood initiative that the agency has been
working on collaboratively with community partners for the past seven years. DSS
would like to ask for a waiver to fund a fatherhood initiative that would fund a
coordinator position whose responsibilities would include mediating between parents
for access and visitation and facilitating a curriculum that teaches parenting skills and
identifying resources to provide employment opportunities to non-custodial parents to
help them in paying their child support obligations. The waiver would allow NHC to
use child support incentive money to fund this program. Director Nesmith explained
the project would not go forth until the money is in hand. not after the fact.
Commissioner Barfield feels anything that can support the fatherhood initiative is a
worth while pursuit. Ms. McNamee noted that when a dad is more involved with a
child. they are more apt to support the child financially, which is how it connects to
Child Support.
Next Meeting Objectives
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant
Board Comments
Ms. Woolley noted the news paper articles pertaining to DSS have been really
positive lately.
Additional Items
As there was no additional information 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
Board by consensus adjourned at 1 1 :20AM.
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Respectfully submitted.
LaVau hn Nesmith.
Secretary to the Board
Patrick Riley.
Board Chairman