B11202012 New Hanover County
Board of Social Services
• Meeting Minutes
Multi Purpose Room A
10:00a.m. — 11:00 a.m.
The New Hanover County Board of Social Services met in open session on Tuesday.
November 20. 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: Jonathan
Barfield and Frankie Roberts
ALSO ATTENDING: LaVaughn Nesmith, Secretary to the Board: Stephanie
Monteath, Assistant to the Director
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. Mr. Riley asked for a motion
to approve the agenda. Mr. Roberts moved for approval of the agenda. The motion
was seconded by Ms. Bryant and passed unanimously.
Ms. Bryant led the invocation. Mr. Roberts led the pledge of allegiance.
CONSENT AGENDA
• Mr. Riley asked for a motion to approve the consent agenda. Mr. Roberts moved to
approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by Ms. Bryant and passed
unanimously.
INFORMATION AGENDA
Ms. Bryant asked if the two vacated positions would be filled. Ms. Monteath
answered in the affirmative. The Board reviewed the service delivery indicator
numbers. Ms. Bryant asked about community resources for foster families (clothes,
child care subsidy etc.). Ms. Marino explained the intake social workers are kept up
to date with all the available resources in the community. including General
Assistance. Good Friends, faith community funds etc. Angelina Bernard noted these
resources are good for a one time fix but not a continuing subsidy to income for
families. Mr. Riley speculated about a sponsorship program, like Big Brother
program.
The Board reviewed budget expenditures. Karen Graham reviewed all highlighted
areas.
Director Nesmith discussed the IV-D waiver proposal along with Alyssa Han-ell. Ms.
McNamee further explained the interconnectedness of a program wherein parents that
• visit their children more often. are more likely to pay child support.
No action was taken by the Board.
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STRATEGIC ACTION AGENDA
NC Fast Hard Launch Update
Chris McNamee, Mary John Brantley and Leslie Chaney gave an update on NC
Fast's hard launch. After over twenty two years. NC Fast has finally come to fruition.
All applications are now being taken in NC Fast. All recertifications must be
converted from the old system to the new system. Seven staff members are working
on this process. There are 3 State representatives here to help with the hard launch as
well. Ms. Chaney explained the old process. where a person would fill in 16 pages of
applications and the worker would then tabulate eligibility from that information.
The new system now does the tabulations. but much more data must be entered and
the system is more complex (which actually makes it slower). Ms. Chaney passed out
a document with a time line for agency conversion to NC Fast: Medicaid is the next
unit to participate. Director Nesmith and Ms. Chaney explained E-Pass (which is
expected to begin in 2013). an on-line application process.
Medical Transportation Policy
Title XIX Medical Transportation is going to be audited. In preparing for that, it was
noted the transportation policy needs to be updated. Wanda Marino presented the
policy changes to the Board. To comply with state policy. 10 D of the agency
Medicaid Transportation Policy has been revised to read. Individuals who have three
5 110 .shoii s" Within a three (3) month period may have their transportation .cervices
suspended fOr thirty days. DSS will reimburse as specified in 7 and 8 above. Ms.
Bryant moved to approve the changes in the policy as of today. The motion was
seconded by Commissioner Barfield and passed unanimously.
Foster Care Adoption Community Outreach
Ms. Marino handed out promotional materials to the Board Members to assist with
both adoption and foster care awareness.
Ms. Bryant shared that she would be interested in seeing both DSS staff and Board
Members get involved in doing real community outreach: sharing which resources are
available. especially with the aging population. Director Nesmith tasked the
Assistant Directors with contacting the Board Members about participating in
outreach projects. Mr. Roberts commented that he finds when doing outreach. or
sharing the message about what happens at DSS, he finds many people in the
community have misconceptions about what happens in the agency. He feels Board
Members need to approach the community with points of information about the
reality of restrictions the agency deals with.
Updates from Social Services Institute
Ms. McNamee shared the Best Practice award the agency received for automating
Medicaid packets each month. Lori Harvey explained the program she runs monthly.
which has been a real cost/time saving process. Ms. Harvey also noted that all DSS
agencies seem to be focused on task management teams. Linda Mitchell shared
information she learned at the NC Fast workshop. She noted the when a client come-
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in: they need only share their story one time. instead of over and over for each service
they are applying. Ms. Mitchell also noted that clients need to be informed about the
changes that while ultimately. will he a great help, will also likely mean delays for a
while. Brian Bocnuk shared that not only did he win a door prize to Macaroni Grill:
he was able to look at some foster care practices and ideas he has since shared with
our community partner Wilmington Health Access for Teens. Patricia Robinson
discussed SEEK (the automated child care subsidy payment system). which NHCDSS
is scheduled to roll out August 2013. Director Nesmith shared he learned. through
Division of Medical Assistance, that many of the services North Carolina provides
are optional such as adult dental care. Title XIX and mental health services. Mr.
Nesmith is personally glad they chose to provide these optional services for the
citizens of New Hanover County and North Carolina as a whole. Ms. McNamee
reiterated that many of the workshops discussed work support strategies. which will
be discussed in upcoming Board meetings. Mr. Roberts said the hot topic was the
senate bill consolidating Health and DSS. He feels that there is either an opportunity
to be client centered or politically centered: You can't teach what you don't know
and you cant lead where you don't go-. He encourages the commissioners not to
make a political decision but to encourage the citizens to give their input. There was
a lot of good comradery. Ms. Bryant reiterated the hot topic was consolidation. but
walked away feeling like New Hanover County needed to he commended for already
engaging in practices other counties were just beginning to think about.
Next Meeting Objectives
• Work Support Strategies
Maltreatment and Binge Drinking in Adolescents — Kate Nooner
Board Comments
No further comments from the Board.
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 11 :34AM.
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