COUNT inty of Hoke  Micka T. Stanton DIRECTOR  $ervices  TELEPHONE (910)875-8725 FAX (910)848-7766  Deparht  RAROLANGIEsO OIISHED  MINUTES FORI MEETING OF  THE HOKE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD  July29,2024  A meeting oft the Hoke County Department of Social Services (the "Board") was held at 4:00 p.m. on July 29, 2024 in the Commissioners Room located in the County Administrtion Building (Pratt Building) at 227N N. Main St., Raeford, NC, pursuant to notice duly given. The following Board Members ("BM'),coistituting: arquorum, were  present:  Linda Revels, Chair Harry Southerland Allen Thomas, Jr. Virginia Chason - via Phone Carl A. Pevia  Also present representing the Department were Terry Stanton, Director ofthe Hoke County Department of Social Services; Deidra Hadley, Personnel Tech I; Barbara Mena, Administrative Officer; Diane Simmons, Program Administrator over Income Maintenance and Child Support and Jose Coker, Department of Social Services Attorney. Chair Revels called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. and welcomed the Board to Chair Revels asked for public comments. Ms. Barbara Mena spoke about Parents with Special Needs Children. There will be ai meeting August 30, 2024 starting at 6j pm until 8 pm at the Public Library inl Hoke County. A documentary called "Unseen" willl be shown. Ati this meeting information will be given to assist parents with Special needs children and let them know about different programs available. Chair Revels asked Ms. Mena to give this information to Ms. Rosa Chavis at the Children's Developmental Center. BM Southerland asked, "Where do these parents go nowt to get: resources for their children"?1 Ms. Mena stated she uses Facebook Groups. Chair Revels asked ift the Board  this month'smeeting. Thereafter, BM Pevia give the invocation.  had any other questions. There were none.  Chair Revels asked for ai motion to approve the consent agenda. BM Southerland made a motion to approve the consent agenda items (a) the June 24, 2024 Minutes (b) the  An Equal Opportunity Employer    COUNT unty of Hoke  Micka T. Stanton DIRECTOR  TELEPHONE (910)875-8725 FAX (910)848-7766  Services  Deparne  RAÈGR ByNC2B364340 AGLISHED  next meeting date ofMonday, August 26, 2024 which was seconded by BM Thomas. The  vote was unanimous.  Chair Revels asked for the Elections of Officers and asked Attorney Coker to carry out the election. Director Stanton stated that BM Chason's position hasn'tbeen posted yet by the state. Chair Revels asked the Board on howt toj proceed. Attorney Coker proceeded with elections. Attorney Coker opened the floor for nominations for the seat of Chairperson. BM: Pevia nominated Harry Southerland for Chairperson which was seconded by Chair Revels. Attorney Coker asked ift there were any other nominations. There were none. Attorney Coker asked for a vote to accept Harry Southerland as Chairperson. The vote was unanimous. Attorney Coker asked for nominations for the seat ofVice-Chair. BM: Pevia nominated Linda Revels, Ms. Revels declined the nomination. Chair Southerland nominated Carl Pevia which was seconded by BM Revels. Attorney Coker asked ift there were any other nominations. There were none., Attorney Coker asked: fora a vote to accept Carl Pevia for Vice-Chair. The vote was unanimous. BM Revels turned the: meeting over to Chair Southerland. Chair Southerland Thanked the Board for their trust in him tol lead the Board. BM: Revels also gave Thanks to the Board for  allowing her to. lead for the past 2 years.  Chair Southerland asked for the Child Care update from Ms. Tammy Brewer. Ms. Diane Simmons stated that Ms. Brewer hasn'treceived the expenditures for. July service month. Ms. Simmons stated Ms. Brewer will update the Board next month. Ms. Simmons stated that Ms. Brewer did receive $31,000 in July for CIP and all ofthose funds have been used. Chair Southerland asked ift the Board had any other questions. There were  none."  Chair Southerland asked for the Director's Presentation. Director Stanton directed the Board to the MOU. Director Stanton talked about the vacancies in the agency. Chair Southerland asked with the vacancies is there an issue with getting the work done? Director Stanton stated it does have an effect on the workers that are there, iti makes it tough on them trying to get their work done and the work ofthe vacant positions. Director Stanton gave an update on the old HATS location, the staffhas moved in. There isj just al little outside: maintenance still being done. BMI Pevia asked if wel had all vacancies filled will the customers have privacy when speaking with their worker? Director Stanton stated wel have several offices that have 2 workers ini that office. The plan is tol have 1 dedicated office for privacy. This office will be used by workers with 2 people to take the customer there to complete their application in privacy. Director Stanton Updated the Board on BM Chason's position. Chair Southerland asked Director Stanton to give an update on the staff and their issues with the recent: raise. Director Stanton stated no one has come to him about any issues. Chair Southerland stated that several people went to the County Manager, Ms. Edens. Director Stanton stated that Ms. Hadley, Personnel Tech will give any employee their current salary at any time and she has done that on many occasions. BM Revels stated that employees should be going  An Equal Opportunity. Employer    COUNT anty of Hoke  Micka' T.S Stanton DIRECTOR  Services  TELEPHONE (910)8 875-8725 FAX (910)848-7766  Deparfna4  RAPFO XERC2B37340 ABLISHED  through their chain of command and: not going to the County Manager. BMI Pevia asked for a list of names of employees that are going to the Social Service Institute in Hickory, NC. Director Stanton stated he would get that list for him. Chair Southerland asked fora Medicaid update. Ms. Simmons stated that Medicaid applications have slowed down. Ms. Simmons also stated that the auditors check 200 of our records over a 10-month period and we. must score 96.8% to pass. Our staff scored 97%1 for Approvals and 99% for Denials & Determinations. Out of29 counties only 3 counties passed and Hoke County was 1 ofthe 3. The Board was extremely pleased with Ms. Simmons staffi in getting this done with all the vacancies in that department. Chair Southerland asked ifthe Board has  any other questions. There were: none.,  Chair Southerland asked for a motion to adjourn until Monday, August 26, 2024. BM Revels made ai motion to adjourn which was seconded by BMI Pevia. The vote was  unanimous.  Harry Southerland, Chair  Micka T. Stanton, Secretary  Date  An Equal Opportunity Employer