DSS Board Meeting Minutes
CALDWELL COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
September 30, 2008
I. Call to Order
The Caldwell County Department of Social Services Board met on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 in the City/County Chambers at the Alden E. Starnes County Office Plaza in Lenoir, North Carolina for their regular monthly meeting. The Board Chair, Frances Fox, called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. Other Board members in attendance were Ron Roukema, Metaleen Thomas, Mattie Patterson, and Alden Starnes.
II. Approval of Agenda
The Chair called for approval of the agenda. Ron Roukema made the motion to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Metaleen Thomas and passed unanimously.
III. Approval of Minutes
The Chair then called for approval of the August 26, 2008 Board minutes. Mattie Patterson made the motion the minutes be approved as written, seconded by Alden Starnes. The minutes were approved unanimously.
IV. Recognitions
- A. Employee of the Month
Linda Laws, Business Manager addressed the Board stating it was her privilege to introduce James Philyaw as the September Employee of the Month. James is employed with the Caldwell County Maintenance Department but is housed at DSS as our on site maintenance man and custodian. Ms. Laws stated Mr. Philyaw has a positive and friendly attitude and is always willing to help in any way. He sees obstacles as challenges and on the hottest day of the year assembled book cases on his free time after his regular duties were completed. Even though Mr. Philyaw is not an employee of DSS he is a part of the agency and all staff appreciates everything he does for our department.
Mr. Philyaw informed the Board that he is very honored and thankful and wanted to say how welcome the staff at DSS has made him feel.
V. Reports
A. Financial Report
Business Manager, Linda Laws, presented the Board with the financial report stating we will have a lot of challenges this year as we did last year. One month of expenditures have been reported and we should have a better idea of reimbursement in about one month.
Ms. Laws stated child welfare is budgeted to begin the new payment system for foster care. We will have five months of expenditures at the old rate and seven months at the new rate.
B. Personnel Report
Director, Joyce Edwards, gave the personnel report. There have been three vacancies since the last meeting and four positions filled. A total of eight positions are being recruited at this time. She pointed out to the Board the vacant position of Child Protective Services Intake vacated by Lynn Hall. Lynn voluntarily separated from the department to pursue other interests but has since decided to return to the agency. Ms. Hall will be reinstated to the CPS Intake position. Ms. Edwards concluded there is a lot of moving around but this does provide an opportunity for staff to be promoted within the agency.
C. Smart Start Walk Smart
Lisa Abel, Adult and Family Support Services Program Administrator informed the Board of the annual Smart Start Walk Smart event that will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC & TI). Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the 5K walk to follow at 9:00 a.m. The walk will begin at CCC & TI, go through the Town of Hudson, and return to the college. The event is open to the public and Ms. Abel invited the Board to come out and join us. Director Edwards stated the agency is having some friendly competition as Ms. Abel and Child Welfare Program Administrator, Wendy Pyle, are the co-captains of the agency teams. Director Edwards is serving as captain. This is a very important event for Smart Start and the agency as well. Seventy-five percent of the money raised by Social Services remains with the department to be used in the children's areas in the lobbies and visitation rooms at the new building.
D. Child Care Update
Child Care Supervisor, Monica Dula, updated the Board on Child Care stating we are currently at 91% spending. As a result, letters have been mailed to add approximately 100 children back into care. The goal is to reach 100% spending. The waiting list is currently at 800 plus and Ms. Dula stated we have 858 recipients of child care at this time. She informed the Board we work with all licensed care in the county and deem eligibility be verifying income and performing quarterly reviews.
E. Child Welfare Program Assessment
Wendy Pyle, Child Welfare Program Administrator, informed the Board the agency recently had a consultant to come in and look at how our children are processing through the system when they enter care. Jane Malpass, Consultant from the State Division, staffed various cases and feels the agency is doing exactly as we should. She found some areas that need improvement and work will be ongoing to make these suggested improvements. Ms. Malpass does feel caseloads are too high but commended Child Welfare staff on how their cases have been handled. Ms. Pyle stated Ms. Malpass is a pretty tough reviewer and feels the suggestions she made are very manageable. Ms. Pyle concluded she feels it is a good process to have an outside person to come and in review. She stated she will be happy to report back to the Board on any further reviews.
F. Employment Related Services
1. Community Employment Case Manager, Cecilia Hicks, addressed the Board on the Work First Program. Work First is an aggressive employment program to help individuals find employment and become self sufficient. Within the program, applicants/participants are required to have thirty-five hours a week of activities which include job searching, work experience or GED classes. Participants generally start with job searching for approximately two to three weeks and visit around seven places per day. To assist the individuals with the cost of gas, transportation is provided by the job search coach. If employment has not been obtained within the two to three week time frame, participants are placed in a work experience, an unpaid training opportunity. They may still job search while they are in a work placement. Participants meet with the case manager on a weekly basis to sign a contract which outlines activities to be completed in the employment program. If the required thirty-five hours of activities are not completed then penalties apply to the case. Ms. Hicks concluded the program provides as much assistance as possible to help individuals find and maintain employment, thus becoming more self sufficient.
Ms. Hicks concluded by informing the Board the department has gotten approval from the Caldwell County Board of Commissioners to move forward with the Electing County Plan. Plan ideas were presented during a Community Planning meeting on September 11, 2008. The plan will be submitted to the Commissioners on October 6, 2008.
2. Alecha Boston, Food and Nutrition Services Caseworker, explained the Employment and Training piece of the Food and Nutrition Program. Food and Nutrition benefits allow low income families to purchase nutritious foods as a defense against hunger. Ms. Boston stated there are approximately 992,861 individuals, mostly seniors and children, who receive nutrition benefits monthly in North Carolina. Of this number, approximately 62,000 are required to participate in the Food and Nutrition Services Employment and Training Program (FNS E & T). For the program year 2008 - 2009, applicants participating in the Employment and Training program will be limited to individuals who are able-bodied adults without dependents, between the ages of 18 - 49, volunteers, and no one with children in the home. Ms. Boston informed the Board the Division of Social Services has had a contract with the Employment Security Commission to provide employment and training services to Employment and Training participants since 1987. The goal is to help individuals gain employment despite the barriers they often have, such as poverty, lack of transportation, lack of high school diploma, and lack of employable skills. Ms. Boston concluded due to downturn in the economy, it is estimated the Employment Security Commission will serve approximately 60,000 participants in the program year of 2008 - 2009.
VI. Board Governance.
A. The October 30, 2008 Board meeting will be held in the Tammy Austin Conference Room at the Caldwell County Department of Social Services at 3:00 p.m.
B. The November Board meeting will be held on the 6th at Smokey Creek Barbeque immediately following the holiday luncheon.
C. The Social Services Board held a scheduled work session on September 17, 2008 at Shoney Restaurant in Lenoir, NC. On the agenda were social work and economic highlights and a discussion of the 2008 - 2009 budget and 1571 reimbursement report. The Board reported they felt the work session was very informative.
VII. Scheduled Public Comment
No one was scheduled to speak to the Board for the public comment period
VIII. Adjourn
With no further business, Ron Roukema made the motion to adjourn. Alden Starnes seconded the motion and the meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m.
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Frances Fox, Chair
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Joyce P. Edwards, Secretary