Henderson County Board of Social Services August 20th, 2024, Regular Meeting Minutes  A.  Call to Order 12:00.  The Henderson County Board of Social Services meeting was called to order by Chair Simpson at  Board Members Present Josh Simpson, Member  Melinda Lowrance, Member Stephen Gwaltney, Member Rebecca McCall, Member Amy Holt, Member Melissa Novack, Finance Officer  Staff Leadership Present Lorie Horne, Secretary to the Board/Director  Debby Freeman, Economic Services Program Administrator Candice Fowler, Administrative Assistant/Board Clerk  Guest Public Input None  None  B.  C.  Adjustments to the Agenda  Director Horne informed the board that Board education will be postponed and explained the In- Home aid policy handout. The board members were: asked to read over the policies and information to discuss and vote on in September. Chair Simpson moved to remove board  education.  D.  Approval of Minutes  Mrs. McCall made a motion to approve the. July 16th, 2024, minutes, Mrs. Holt seconded. Mrs. McCall made a motion to approve the. July 31, 2024, minutes, Mrs. Lowrance seconded; all  members voted to approve the minutes.  F.  Reports Questions Only  Director's Monthly Report (Attachment! 1)  Chair Simpson asked how Medicaid enrollment is going. Mrs. Freeman stated that we are at 3,914 cases, the county was expecting 5,000 within the firsty year. Mr. Gwaltney asked how many of those cases were approved, Mrs. Freeman stated that more than half are approved. Chair Simpson asked if you could apply for Medicaid expansion anytime or if your must have a qualifying event. Mrs. Freeman stated that people can apply anytime and don't have to have a Chair Simpson asked how the $11 million investment in treatment services is going to affect the county. Director Horne let them know that the IAFT (Intensive Alternative Family Treatment) resources are going to providers on the east coast. There are IAFT homes in this area but very few. Director Horne let the board knowi that DHHS provider selected for Family and Children Specialty Plan, contract was awarded to Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. Mrs. McCall asked about  qualifyingevent.    August 2024 Page 2  the criteria for choosing a provider. Director Horne stated that the main RFP requirement for the Chair Simpson askedi if the embedded care coordinators from Vaya willl have to move out. Director Horne stated that the changes won't take place until. July 2025. Vaya will continue to provide  selected companyi is the ability to provide care across the state.  service until Blue Cross takes over.  August Employees of the Month (Attachment II)  Questions only None  CCPT/CFRT Board Member Selection:  Director Horne discussed the CCPT/ CFRT meeting requirements and the schedule oft the committee. Mrs. Holt volunteered to bet the board member selected for CCPT/CFRT committee. All board members voted yes; Mrs. Holt was selected. Director Horne let Mrs. Holt know that the meeting coordinator will reach out and give heri the necessary information to review prior to the  meeting. Questions only None  July 2023- July 2024 Statistical Report (Attachment III)  August Program Administrator's Report (Attachment IV)  Questions only  Mr. Gwaltney asked about the waitlist for the SA in-home services. Director Horne let the board know that we currently havet four CSST's with full caseloads and explained the struggle with the waitlist. Each client must have a social worker to provide case management. Mr. Gwaltney asked if we could revisit the adult services waitlist in November to see where the agency is at. Director Horne explained that the in-home services are not mandated by the state. In-home services are non-medical services that allow an individual to stay at home rather than move to ai facility. Chair Simpson asked how the board members could advocate for the agency to have staff moved around to meet the needs ofe each program. Director Horne stated that there are many processes involved in moving staff and explained that positions must be re-classified and approved by OSHR and the County to move. staff appropriately. Director Horne also discussed the differences of pay grades between programs and stated that the agency cannot demote an employee and move them to a new program; each pay grade would have to be assessed and approved as well. She stated that we have done some internal re-classifications to ensure that we are meeting the needs of the state mandated programs and assured the board that it can be done, it just takes time. Director Horne asked the board if they would likei to have an overall view of adult services and how Chair Simpson asked if the Adult Services social workers must be a social worker III. Director Horne explained that SA in-home and Adult Protective Services are different services. The SAi in-home services have social worker 2s providing case management and CSSTs to go into homes and provide services. The Adult Protective services social workers are: social worker 3s. The social worker 3s do evaluations andi investigations to determine if an adult needs protective services. Director Horne stated that APS is mandated by lawi to provide this service whereas the SAI in-home services are not mandated. Director Horne explained that each CSST can have a caseload of up to 15 people, however each client must have as social worker to case manage. Mrs. Holt asked how we could add new CSST positions. Director Horne explained that county money would be used for the new  staff meet the needs of the program.  positions and explained the historical lack of funding in adult services.    August 2024 Page 3  Mrs. McCall asked about the decline int foster care numbers and if we are overstaffed in Foster Care. Director Horne stated that we are not overstaffed at this time. She explained that the extended: 18-21 foster care was moved to adult services many years ago. This past year we have moved extended FC cases back to child welfare and put the position back in adult services. Mr. Gwaltney asked what number that we need fori foster care homes. Director Horne explained that there are around 30 kids that are in higher levels of care, simply because we do not have enough higher levels of care foster homes and do not license the higher level foster homes. Mr. Gwaltney asked how al household could acquire the higher level licensing. Director Horne stated thati iti is ar mental health license, and it requires extensive training for the entire family. Mrs. McCall asked what happened with general insurance and bonding line. Mrs. Novack let her know that she would find out from the County as to why the number changed.  Financial Report July 2024 (Attachment V)  G. Old Business DSS Staffing Update  Director Horne spoke about the current 14 vacancies and let the board know that there are four prospective candidates. Mrs. McCall asked if any of the prospect candidates are returning employees. DirectorH Horne let her know that we have one returning employee.  H. New Business  Board Education Discussion  Director Horne asked thel board how they would like board education presented and what kinds of subjects would be beneficial fori the board to learn. Mrs. McCall asked fori thel board tol be alerted of any newl legislative issues affecting the agency and County and to keep the board abreast of Chair Simpson asked for a deep dive discussion into each department to know where resources need to be distributed and where the board needs to push and advocate for the agency.  current issues.  Closed session  The members oft the board went into closed session pursuant to NCGS143-318.110)0. Chair Simpson made the motion to goi into closed session at: 12:50 p.m. Mrs. McCall seconded the  motion; all board members present agreed. The board members came out of closed session at 1:05.  I.  Adjournment  Chair Simpson adjourned the meeting at 1:05.  gla!r K4Jn  ab  Josh Simpson, Chair  Date  Lorie Horne, Secretary to the Board Date    August 2024 Page 4  Attachments:  .Director's Report-August: 2024 I.August Employees oft the Month HI.Statistical Report-J July 2024 IV.Program Administrators' Report- -August 2024 V.Financial Report-July: 2024