meeting to order will ask for a vote. I can't even read it. Look, take my glasses off so I can see. Okay. For a motion for the adoption of the agenda. I'll make a motion that we I'll in favor So it's all the The minute from last month's meetings already been sent out Call for a motion that we adopt the minutes from last meetings I'll make a motion that we adopt the minutes from last meetings. I make a motion that we've adopted a minute. A second. Is there any discussion? I call for the vote. All in favor? I. Thank you. This is the last. Joe's the reason we're laughing there's about a three-second delay. I could hear it as well. The political, the current position, and I'll second. You're on it. Yes sir. All right, we recognize direct and hunt for the personnel report. Good afternoon everyone. You have a personnel report in front of you that's dated 52624 with our numbers. If you don't mind just taking that a look at that and let us know if you have any questions. Looks like Compton is coming down a great deal for some of them. The managers are doing very well with that. It's been spread out pretty good. And the fact that when we're sitting with children, we're able to use some contract workers that helps the Com time stay down. Or the contract workers are they certified or any spatial skills. They do we normally get contract workers who are social workers or that are with the school system or the health department to help set with the kids. Anything else you can mention? Now, some of our workers that are here, we have found that if they don't have a social work background, that's probably better to send them through a training before they sit. We've had that. Yeah, and so we usually try to find the ones that are already stilled. We can. Yeah, and so we usually try to find the ones that are already sealed. Yes, but finding those that actually saves on the training and they just come in practically knowing what to do. Oh yeah. And some of them are workers that actually have worked with us before. We just reach out and say, hey, you work right work. Why are you here? You want to help us out? That's awesome. Joseph has these reports on it. Yes, I don't know the read everything you did. Thank you. Yes, I'll leave the read everything in the day. Thank you, sir. Any day, I'll say that in the studio. I'm going to ask you to ask the staff to ask the staff to ask the staff to ask the staff to ask the staff to ask the staff to ask the staff to ask the staff to ask the staff to ask the staff to ask the staff to ask the staff to ask the staff to ask the staff to ask the staff to ask the staff to report for the 11 months ended May 31, 2024. On page 2, you'll see your contribution from General Fund for your administrative expense side is at 888.92, which is 2.75, excuse me, under budget. And then on page 4, you'll see your contribution from the general fund for your programs is at 119.97%, which is 28.3% over the program side. And then your total budget on your real life page 9, 86.83%, which is 4.84% under budget. So we're still under budget for the year through 11 months and in May 31st, so total budget. Going back to page five, there was a couple of lines over this month that has not been over, and that was our professional services for our IT salary or analysts and our professional service for our deputy That's for those two salaries actually three salaries the IT there's two salary two positions in that We had two payroll Payroll periods in May so that's why those are both over budget this time because that's putting that a little bit over And then right under the the line, the professional service for childcare, that's a little over, but we're doing a budget amendment to cover that. They gave us a extra smart start money and to make sure they care money. So we won't be over budget in that next month when Paula does the budget amendment next month's meeting. Those are the only three lines that are over this month that have not been over prior. And then going to page seven in our program's special assistance to adults in the middle of page seven, where a little over that, and that's just due to client need. What else? Yeah, special assistance, let's write. Sorry. Yes, special assistance to adults that are in rest homes. And then kinship care, kinship foster care, and family reunification are a little over our family reunification funds. That was just due to the fact that all the invoices have been paid in May. So we won't be over for the year, but we are over for, you know, right now but there would not be any more invoices paid in that fund for the rest of the year. So, and then kinship is what it is just based on children in care that are in kinship placements. So links on page 8, that's one other item that's a little bit over and that's just due to, I've had our notes that we have a funding authorization on that but if further looking through that, that's just due to less coding on the day sheets and more coding going into the program. So we'll move some money from the day sheet side. We didn't have as much funds and the day she's sad, which is good They can do more in the program for the children. So that won't be over budget for the year. So and that's all that's What's over budget this year or this month that hasn't been over budget so far this year? so um I Financed director Palo Roach will be doing those budget amendments and she also do a budget amendment for foster care. So I'll have to pull some funds and move out for foster care since we're so over and foster care. So that'll be coming up at the next commissioners meeting. I have a minute. Miss Steel, Joseph, you have any questions or comments? Well, you move over funds. Some funds can't be moved over right to a certain line on it. Right. You can move funds within pro, the administrative side, and you move funds within the program side, which can't flip off from program to admin so anything that's in admin side can be moved around anything in the program side can be moved around does that make sense you know I was thinking about the program side when Ponce had designated for like child care they can't be moved to another program area. You can't. No. Because a lot of those are kept. What do we say? Yes, Judge? Sorry. What do we do if we find that the, like, what is the state in the center? I don't remember. I said, we might. So what's over at this time of the year. Yeah, this is the first year that I've been here that we're this far over and it's due to foster care. Finance Director Paula will do a budget amendment for foster care so we won't be over a budget when it comes to the end of the year. And that's just going to have to come out of the general fund. Their mandated services that we can't do anything about. I mean, they're just going to keep climbing due to the number of children that we have in care and just the differences in what's happening now compared to last year. And when we did, when we went into a budget meeting last year for this year, we explained that to Mr. Garrison and Paula at that time that we were way over budget at the time last year. We're probably, the way they had us cut it, we're probably gonna be over budget. So this is not anything that's a surprise to them. They already knew that. They knew. And they just said, just wait till the end of year. We're in roll. Excuse me. Would we roll the debt over interest the next year on our budget? No. The incident they do doing amendment, right? Yeah, they'll do a budget amendment to take funds from a general fund to put funds in that line to cover. So it won't be over budget for the year due to that budget amendment. But then nothing rolls over. That would be the county? Yes. So it looks like the county general's. Yes. The only funds that we roll over pretty much are special children adoption funds. And then they have let us roll over our maintenance money from year to year if we cannot use all that, just based on things that we need to have done and the building and the building grounds. So that's all that we've normally rolled over. And if you're looking at this right certain line items are over but total budget is still under. Correct. You can't check Joseph. Steve. You're under. Correct. You can't check Joseph. Yes, thank you. Yeah, you have a lot of line items that are over, but the total budget you're still under through the 11 months in there. And I think they first more if the total budget was over that certain line. It will, it probably will be because I mean you only got 4.84% remaining so you're looking at if you just spent what was in the budget you're looking at another 8.33% because 100% divided by 12 is 8.33 each month so you're at 4.84 so we will be most likely over budget but I can say budget amendments and I can say they know about this and have already been informed of this. Pam predicts every year based on what happened the year before so she was predicting that it would be bad. And then we've taken so children. It's going to change. We're going to talk about that when they get ready to do the report some of the things that we're putting in place to try to prevent children coming into care. Any further buzzer discussing, Joseph? That's it. Thank you. Thank you. We'll recognize direct to hunt again for the service report. All right. Okay. You have the May Services report in front of you. And you'll just look at those numbers from May 2023 to May 2024 and let us know if you have any questions. And that's in May. It's 189. It's up. And we just took custody of two. One, 91. Wow. Oh, yeah, I heard about this. And one of our foster care homes are less. Is that because some people decide it much. They quit being foster parents or they decided not to do it anymore? Right, they either adopted and no longer have the capacity, but that's why we're trying to beef it up, try to get into the community to get our foster home numbers up. So yeah, and some choose not to do it anymore. Think COVID had a huge impact. People just didn't want people in their homes during COVID and that had a huge impact on our number foster parents. And I don't think we would quite recover from that, but typically just mention that they are working on a program to try to get more foster parents. So we're hoping that we can do that. Briefly explain foster children in non-paid placements that you can shift kids. That's your kinship. But now, no, no, yes. What do you think? I like my son. Fair bottom. Yes, at that time, that would have been the kinship. But it could, now is the ones where there are no relation and they don't get paid to care for. So you've got your kinship, people who do get paid now. But you got some people that might be a step that, you know, a cousin that they just took me in or something like that and it don't qualify as blood relatives. So they don't get that payment. I know. I get it. I get it. I'm just saying where we fit it. I'm thinking, I'm like, I'm just saying what we fit in. Yeah. I get it. So I'm thinking like, I think that's what we are. Yeah. Not looking for the payment. We just looking for, I didn't realize that that's what the child would actually be called like a foster child because I know he has DSS placement. But I just wanted to say that is a true representation of the members that probably hide you. But this is where you have foster care. Have custody. That we have custody of. Wow. So the number is higher. It is. Oh, absolutely. Oh, yeah. Yeah, this is just for foster care. Wow. Yeah. Everything for our entire family. That's what I was thinking. You had some relatives that step up up and we don't even hear about it. They just step up and take care of them. You know, the communities and villages. Yes. Take care of the kids. Wow. You have questions, comments, and let's search for food. questions comments on that service report. Joseph, do you have any questions or comments about the service report, sir? No, that's just thank you. Director Hunt anything else on the service report? No. Director Hunt has nothing we recognize. Ms. Dodd on the social work and program update. Okay. So just starting going in leading right into our issue with foster homes and you know getting more people in the community. We talked about F-pop a little bit last month. So this month we've really worked hard on you know getting into the community. How can this look? What can we do to be out in the community and not just to do something once a year? What can we do to be out there? Show our faces, show that we are really needing more foster homes. And so we have been working with my supervisor team, and then today we had our breakfast and we presented it to the team. It is really a community thing. You know, the agency, these are agency kids. These are community kids. These are our candidates. You know, we have to come together to fight to get this out. So we're excited, I am. And so we are going to be doing some events in the community. We're looking at a car show, there's going to be a church in August. We also are looking at pots to go and maybe rip that venue out one day and just have some tent set up and come out and meet and greet. And there's a new movie coming out called A Sound of Hope. And it is based on a true story about a pastor and his wife who took in 77 of the most hard-to-place children. And they were able to be a voice for those children. And so we're thinking about doing a day at the movies or night at the movies where families come in. We're gonna have our say-so in links maybe standing now and not cars and not popcorn. What do we need to do to get this out into the community? We have reached out for the October fest. We're waiting to hear back on that to set a tent up there. We are also looking at the church of treatment. Just set a tent up there, hand out candy, and pass out, you know, stuff about possibly being foster parents. So it's a lot of things that we're doing with our foster parent outreach program that we are all excited about, the agency is excited about, because we want everybody to be a part of that. We also have Emily Wood with Mosaic Hope who is being our cheerleader. She calls herself a BSS cheerleader and she's our bridge into the churches. And so we're going to be getting into the churches, you know, seeing if we can be on the Bulletin Reports, the announcements, whatever we can do to get it out that we need. There is a need and it is a huge need. So we're excited about that. She's excited about that. So that's pretty much what we're doing over in children's services. Few turnovers, but we're maintaining and keep on pushing. Adult services, super proud of them. It's not because the work is easier. The work is actually getting harder for them. We are seeing a lot of substance abuse and mental health, which we talk about all the time. And they are killing it with their reviews. They're seeing their families. They're giving them services, doing what they can to meet the need of our adults in our community. It's also elderly abuse months. So this week, we've done some fun things. Like on Monday, we were down at the senior center center and we played Bingo. You don't play about the Bingo. You hear me? You don't play about the Bingo. You say I Bingo, sir. Everybody want a kiss. So, where am I going to win? So that was really fun. We were purple and then yesterday we had tie-dye. Today was, tomorrow is college day, and Friday is part two here today, just to put awareness out there. So we're working and working hard and still showing up so that's what we appreciate. When you were at the senior center, did anyone act with your individuality or people come up to you and want to talk about it. Yes, ma'am. Because we had law enforcement there to kind of talk about the scams and things like that. And so they hear that and then they want to talk about it. Yes, ma'am. We had a few that come up after and we gave them the number to make a report and follow them with. Yes, ma'am. Because a lot of people are afraid to get involved. They see abuse, but they're afraid to get involved. So we had a really nice turn in. People are happy because they're good enough. And the legal boards were educational. They were about what El Dorbius looks like. It was good. It's not if I could commend you for the little post that you put out about. Join my team. Yes. Looks like you've got several folks that hopefully they're not kidding. They seem like that they are interested. I hope so. And joining the team. Mm-hmm. Taking care of some of our kids in the camp. Yeah, I hope so. So like I said, look like you use in all the means necessary to try to reach as many people as you can. Joseph, do you have any comments, concerns, sir? About Mr. Dodd's update? I'm sorry. You can think of us, Miss Dot. I do not. You want to mention anything else about APS? I see it. I see it. What do you want to eat? About their... I think... Oh, I'll tell you a list of that. I was all into the foster parents. Okay, then. I think I have a message. No, APS, don't protect us. Yes, ma'am. She did. I think someone worked with their killing it. You said they're killing it. That's what you mean. Gotcha. The board knows how hard we're working. She kind of was in the same vein as that bingo. Oh, right. Oh, OK. That's how Mrs. Lackay is. We'll recognize Mrs. Bridges for the economic services. We've got two positions available in food nutrition. We've got two in sandwich orders to Medicaid. So we have started interviewing for those. It's been kind of quiet, thank goodness. And I talked to you all last month. This has been very quiet in Medicaid. They have lost their chief of Medicaid and they've placed them yet. So we'll get very little correspondence, which is very scary. But one of the big changes for economic services, we will be mandated about avoid all of our documents within NC Fast Effective July 1st, which that is a major change for us because we do have a local northwards document management system and it does take a lot more time to upload. And just give you a little bit of history on that. When NC Fast was implemented in 2012, It was supposed to come with a statewide document management system where all the supporting documents would be uploaded and the state never could give that project up and going. And so they finally abandoned it. And of course, they fell on the county. And we pay a good bit of money for our software system, our document management system. So that's, we're working, we're setting up, set up a team, got someone overseeing that. It's very cumbersome, it's not easy. You cannot scan it straight into Northwoods. Excuse me, into NC fast. You either have to move it from Northwoods, export it, save it in a file, then move it, sing your lower documents or lump it. So it's quite a few steps and so... Let's have them with the rest. Just to give them some brief. Just fairifications for the determined award to be willing. Just those. All of that. The University of Opinion, the University of Opinion, the University of Opinion and the University of Opinion, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's, the individual's to export. So we're trying to figure out the most efficient manner in which to do that. And we have reached out to many counties and not really found a shortcut. A lot of steps to it. So we are working on that. I think the directors are trying to push to delay that because we're getting several error messages from NCFAS when we're trying to export and import. I don't know if this cost any people are using the system. They plan to have that fixed or the end of June. The implementation is June 1st. And I believe that it's mandatory to because of that call order and Medicaid and also when they're checking records they just want to be able to go in their check eligibility and have everything the system to just be self-sustained and not have to reach out to the county for anything. But we'll, I'll keep getting ready to go and they'll know what happened. It will be postponed a little bit. Just give us a little more time. I think NCFAS was implemented when I was still working and they had problems from day one. And so I'm still hearing about in C fast problem. Yes, yes. Next York, and what they did, they don't fix the problem. Right. But you start implementing new things that has more problems. So it's, yeah, it's a difficult system. And then just let you know on the Medicaid expansion update, we are up to a total of 3690 Medicaid expansion recipients, which is 91% of our goal. So we're getting there pretty quick. The state continues to send our certification periods, which has made our workload very workable in our family children's apartment. So that has really helped retain staff and give us time to get used to the new policy and implementation of the Medicaid expansion. But other than that, let's go on on that side. Ms. Georgia, you got anything? Joseph, any questions or comments on the economic services? Yes sir, thank you. We'll come back to the Director Hunt for the Director's report. Okay, the first thing I want to say is, Okay, yes. You're saying stuff like he, she came here with you. I just want to say I thank the administration it's been and I want to say this couple to the board, since Kim has arrived, it has made my doubt so much easier. I've been able to call her if I'm on the road or in a meeting, I could step out and say, hey, I need to respond to this. Send this for me and she's done that. She was able to help Kayla do a couple of things. So it's been, it's been very, very productive and it has helped me so much. I still work a little bit at night, but not like I used to. So I wanted to let the board know that. And I wanted to say also we have someone new on our fan x team that replaced Kim and so Pam was stepped up, trained in people and it has to be difficult when you're trying to train someone new. So I just want to publicly say thank you to you and to the administration team, to you and Kayla, and to Tiffany who is leading child welfare and adult protective services and it's tough because we've had to let go some people So and we still continue to thrive which is a blessing and to candy Because when we started off with medicated expansion we knew we we had a little over 4,000 people and we're now at about 3,900 people we we set a goal. We started this to try to get everybody on board into Simperer and we're at 91% now. So thank you, Candy, you and your team. So for the Directors Report, I just wanted to let everyone know that, let's see things that's happening. One is Dr. Sarah Horns, she's with Preferred Choice, and she and I have been talking for about a year, just trying to decide on how we were going to fix this substance use misuse within our families because we have 9% of our cases that are referred to child protective services and that are found in need of services are for substance issues. So on June 3rd, the county commission has approved the four choices proposal of $335,755 of the opioid funding that of course came through the committee and the proposal outlines a partnership with Preferred Choice and DSS to bring family center treatment recovery program to the agency. So it actually places two clinicians on site and that is going to help us so much and the whole purpose is to help bring some services to the family so that children when I have to come into care. Because when we cannot guarantee the safety of that child and we know that the parents are not providing safety because of substance misuse, then we don't have a choice. We have to take that child into care to make sure that child is going to be taken care of. But we found that if the substance misuse can get addressed and with their being someone on site, because a lot of times when we're trying to get them into services, there's a waiting list or there's no services. So just to have them on site is great. It is a holistic approach so not only will it help to help families with substance use, substance issues, but it also helps with trauma as well because we know that when children come into care, when they've been a part of substance use in families that they're also traumatized, which makes it harder for the child. So they're working on the families and the children simultaneously. So we're excited about that. In addition, so that was done, so we're excited about that, that happened. And then right after that, the very next week, we got a call from Piscolegal Services saying, okay, it's done. There's a $1.4 million grant award to Piscolegal Services to work with two counties identified as Henderson County and Rutherford County. What this does is it puts four people on site, two attorneys and two case managers. And it's basically the same thing. It's working toward preventing the removal or the unnecessary removal. When we say unnecessary, when we mean that we can fix something, then children will have to come into care. So this program begins, the funding begins July 1, but we're in the process of having some beginning meetings so we can figure out where they're gonna go and all of that, so that brings us to another challenge space. But I've already talked with Steve about space and we're just gonna have to work on it because we've got approximately six people that will be coming to our agency and we need space for them. So we have no clue where they'll be right now, but we will figure it out. So we're just excited about the program. This is what we were talking about earlier that we feel like this will have a profound effect. Piscal liquor services will be what does that grant us three years for choice that grant is two years. So that is wonderful and it's going to be a blessing for the end home services unit who are, they're obligated with the responsibility trying to make sure that the children are safe and that services are being provided is really difficult because once I go to end-home services you know that there's an issue. There has been identified, they've been found in native services and so now it's up to that worker and it's difficult. That's probably one of the hardest jobs because now you know that there are issues but it's your responsibility to fix it and get them services and so a lot of kids come in to care through at home services because they don't get the services and it doesn't work out. So, in-home services make a referral to the clinicians. Yes. So, right now, we actually have a meeting coming up with Piscol Legal Services. We're going to include Sarah Born in Preferred Choice. And what we're meeting about is exactly how to design it because it's new. So, and what we mean by that is how to design, at what point they enter. Do they enter right at the end of when we're staffing to say, hey, I think this case needs to come over into end home services? Does it come in a little bit sooner? So we'll be getting together with Tiffany and all the child welfare workers to talk about that. Do we schedule a meeting date yet? Mm-hmm. Do you want to fill in? Oh, July 17th is a meeting date. We don't have that. So if you're saying that, so it's a blank slate that you'll get to create to make it work? Mm-hmm. It's just, yes. It's kind of like, we have objectives to meet. but the way that we go about it is going to be designed by the department and physical legal services. So one of the things that they asked us for is, once they get this started, they're looking at us training them, like how often are you meeting with families? So they'll need to know some of the policies. So we'll get them acclimated to the DSS world and what our culture is like and how often we visit the families and we will design what this looks like. And so they're also looking at any value-reshing piece. We have a couple of people working on their MSWs. And so we're gonna cool them in. I'm sure, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Masters of social work. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. So we have a couple of people working on their masters of social work. So we're thinking that we're going to be able to utilize some of them for some of that evaluation information that they need to pull those things together and to continue to keep the data. They're going to keep it to. And then we have two human services planners and planners and evaluators within the agency that's also going to help us track data, what's working, what we can step back and do. And then every so often, we're going to meet to just kind of see how we're doing. But this is a blessing because when you think about in-home services, we the probably add on how many more workers could we add on and still not have enough maybe 15 20 but it's just it's hard work. The grant is still in with substance abuse. Yes. So I'm just both of them. Yeah that's just the very difficult area and I'm thinking the kids are, you're talking about parents getting them the participate. Correct. Well, see here's the thing. And home services is mandatory. It's not like intensive family preservation where you have to say, okay, I'll participate. But when you come to end home services, you have to participate. Now, they can tell you that no one I want to, but what are you doing now for end home services? How are they participating? So services in the county, you got preferred choice, you got solid foundation, I mean, already classified. As a parent's going there now, I suppose we go on in you. Yeah, they sign an agreement. It's part of policy that they sign an agreement. So now that we have an order to get the children, yes, no. In order to keep their children. What percentage rate do you have now of people that participate? I mean it's mandatory but what's the percentage rate now of people that participate? I don't know if I can even say all sign in the green list. Well they sign in green list but they don't mean they participate when it goes to foster care. Right, when they, you can say when they have them then you go to school and go to court and it just makes you care. Right. Right. Right. Right. You see when they go to court and it just makes you sign something else. But I would say right now and in home besides the ones that we have in, you know, the few, I would say they're participating. We can't, I mean, we can ask them to. I mean, we can't say if you don't even know. I'm missing substance abuse is a hard one to just stop or not being robbed in it. Maybe I don't be involved in it while I'm having my child there or whatever. But and I just think about the neighborhood and the people that I see. And then you knew that you say that because Sarah Horn and one of her staff people came in today to talk about this problem as well and that was one of the things she said that a lot of people think that oh they complete the services so they're no longer in addiction or they're recovered. That is far from the true meaning. That's what she said. She said, it continues and it's a family recovery. That's what she said today. And I was like, oh, wow, like that even with me, she's like, it's a family recovery. And even when we close our case out, they will stay involved with the family. Now, we know that when we're involved you may get more participation from the families but once we're closed out they may decide not to and it may end up with us getting involved again. We don't know but she said they will continue to be involved as long and they go into the home. She gave a great example of one guy she's working with now where he hates coming into the office. He'd rather be working on his motorcycle so she drives to his garage. And she do her stations with him at his house in his garage. Why, in her motorcycle, she says much better. He ain't angry with any working on his motorcycle. So she gave us a lot of good information today. It was good. She said recovery is ongoing. Oh yeah. That's what I was thinking about. Well, one of the things about this program is that it's evidence-based. And I'm sure that's why the OpenNoid Committee selected it and I'm sure that's why the Commissioners were good with it because anything that you find is evidence-based, that you know that it's been tried and true. So that's great because part of it is, you know, it's called risk. If them is can function right now and then as soon as the case is closed, the risk says, and this is data, it says that within 18 months, they're probably going to go back. If they don't keep those things in place that created us and leaving the home where they were working on things, that in about 18 months, they're going to be right back. So just having this family center program, just having a family center program available, we feel like it's going to really, really help keep the kids out of here. And with this company coming from the hope your settlement funds after the two years, if there's success, there's a possibility of refunding the same program from London, because I know it's going to be 10, 15 years of the same amount of money. This is a program that Sarah and I tried to get funded through dogwood but they had so many applications that this was one of the ones that they did not fund. However, so in two years and we'll start looking at it you know right around that first year there are going to be some other funding streams out there that we're probably going to look at you know if there's no more opioid funding left, which I think is like 18 years or something. Isn't that right? It's like 18 years for the opioid funding. 18 and that. Yeah. 18 years that that funding is going to come down. If we can show good numbers, that is effective, we feel like that the committee will fund it again. And if not, we're already looking at other funding streams. Because I know that this right here in home services and the treatment of substance use, it is difficult. It's very, very difficult. But if we can, and we just don't have enough services here in the county. True. But if we have someone working with that family kind of around the clock or calling that clinician or that case manager then we feel like it will be a good thing. Joseph, do you have any input? It's just something to me that's out there. I think we can all families out there the goal is to keep families together at the starting point. Yep, that's the goal. Thank you, Joseph, because it's, and I know anyone that's done child welfare, you know that it's tedious and it's really scary to leave them home, take them out. So you just have to, there are certain guidelines and they have the staff, especially these high risk cases, with their supervisors very frequently just to make sure that we're doing the right thing. And we have a great team in child welfare. And I think it's because we have a lot of supervisors in child welfare, including the program administrator that has so many years like Tiffany's at 20. Hey, Tina. Oh well, close enough. No. Tiffany's at 18. And then some of the breakaries at 20 something, a nature at 20 something. So that's just great. They just don't need to leave before I do. But that's all I have. Any other, do you wanna just very briefly about the MOU? Oh, MOU, yes. Yes, I can just talk about that briefly. The MOU is a memorandum of understanding that the Department of Health and Human Services does with all, this in place for all of the 100 counties. And it basically, just to make it short and sweet, it basically says that we're gonna do what we're supposed to do according to the performance measures and according to the policies. And we're supposed to sign off on it. And the directors, when this first came out a few years ago, the directors had a real problem with it. And the problem was that it looked as if you wanted to sign something and if we don't do anything about it, we're out there on our own when you're our partner as the state. So we have continued to push back on it, but what they did is they made it part, the general assembly, they made it part of the law, says that county providing these services, the only one that they excluded was Medicaid, the medical stuff. But they pretty much said that you should follow this. You're signing to say that you agree to follow the performance measures and the policies to protect children and to meet the mandates and the performance measures. So they made a couple of changes to it. And now the directors at our last meeting, the directors are okay with signing it because it's part of the policy, but it's not over yet. We are continuing. We don't like that as two years. One of the things that we're looking at is trying to get them to change it to one. We did ask them to do that, but they did not take that one. They did make the change that we talked about because the change was retroactive. We were not comfortable with that. So it starts July 2024, July 1st. I am going to, when this first came out, and they kind of held off on it for a couple of years, but when it came out, lots of directors, they needed to make people aware, but we had never done this before. The state supervised us, but didn't get us to sign an agreement saying, you're going to do what you're supposed to do. So it was put on in 2022 and the commissioners signed off on it. So two years later, it's now 2024. It's time to do it again. So I'm going to present this. I'm going to see if I can get it on the dot get before I leave here for July. Now it's supposed to be Sunday, July 1st, but the director has to sign it and it has to be someone that's in County Leadership, which the County Manager is seeing. So normally it is the County Manager. So we'll put the ThunderDocket for July. I think it's July the 8th when they have the next meeting and we'll just present it there. It's part of the law so it's really hard to not follow it. I think we do a pretty good job following the standards anyway. Don't we, candy and yeah. We pretty much follow the standards. That's all it is so I don't really know. That's what they were saying. We don't really know what the impetus is. I don't know. But we plan to put this on the document, at least like the commissioners review it and then Steve said he'll sign it after that. What kind of trouble do we get in any ramifications for a submit and it late if it's due July to first? I'm gonna I'm gonna ask them as soon as I leave here if it's before five. I will be calling churnese To she's part of the director's but we have I don't think there's gonna be a whole bunch of ramifications because there's there's some Countries that's not even signing it, but I will ask. I will ask. Thank you, ma'am. I did send it out back in May, but since then it's been changed. What? Yeah, so I'll be presenting the updated one. You can think of? Let's see. No. No, I think I've presented a bunch today. Miss Doodie, have anything else? Congratulations on always going after grant opportunities to think how much you can help with serving the people of the Catholic that are in need of DSS 30. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you very much. Richard, did you have anything to add about the MOU? Please. I don't really think you did a good job. It's a reason for a lot of the concerns is multifold, not least which is not much of the memorandum understanding when it's being decreed by the state and counties are not allowed to really have any input in it, which kind of runs contrary to the statute, just a wee little bit, which implies that there's supposed to be a mutual agreement. There's not much mutual about it. And I think that's part of the pushback that happened two years ago, and it's part of the pushback that continues now. I agree, distance gains for a lot of this change on it, but they have softened it in a little place. So I think they make it a little bit, make it more palatable. The fundamental issue remains how much of an MOU isn't how much of a state decrees this one. But you know something in the end is where we reached two years ago and it's true now. We are all creatures of the state and the state has the right to tell us what to do. This is true. It's important. Yeah. That's kind of where we are. Joseph, do you have anything else to bring forward, sir? You know, it helps to know that it's, you know, it's state law, it's actually power. By turning one into equity, the intent of the legislature is that counties have, counties have in reality with the administrative briefs from state you can just try to fight out a second. If I'm just dig your question, yes, I think there's concern about how much relative lack of input and lack of mutuality this agreement has when the law implies something more. Now I'm going to say this, this sounds, they may tailor the plan to the individual county. They don't technically have to buy the statute. And so they obey the statute technically by putting no one cookie cutter one size fits all for all every single DSS in the state. In concern, of course, is there no two DSs exactly alike? What's going to work in Maconburg is not necessarily going to work in Rutherford. But in the end, that is ultimately DHHS's call as put forth by the general assembly. They don't have to. And they have to and they have. Another thing that the directors were just afraid of is that we had some type of liability that they would push us out there alone when they're our supervising agency. And we made that clear to them in the meeting and asked them clearly in the meeting if they would support us if there was a liability issue. And they say, you know, it's not about them not supporting us, but then we don't understand. Anything else, Director? I don't have anything else unless the team does. Does the team have anything else? Okay, will happen if I missed anything. I'll have a room. Okay. I don't think so. Joseph, you have anything else? Do we need to boot on a green seat? How about you, Orange? I think that would be a great idea. I think that on on a great speed. How about you, Orange? I think that would be a great idea. I think that would be a great idea, because here's my thought. Now that you say that, thank you, Joseph, for saying that. My thought would be if the board is OK for me to sign. We didn't do that last month. So anything, are you? Yeah. I thought we gave you the blessing last month. You did give me the that last month. So anything, are you? I thought we gave you the blessing last month. You did give me the blessing last month. I'm sorry. It's a new one. You did. There wasn't a vote, but you had our blessing. You did have the blessing. Yes. When advising month want to go ahead and prove it, the one reason I say that, but I think it would not be a bad idea if the board is willing to consider it. It's not on agenda, but you can add it to the Agenda Rule quick and then vote to approve it if this board is willing. That may not be a bad idea. And that wording would be house, sir. To authorize the director to execute the MOU with DHHS as written? Um, this guy did you get that? I definitely want to be sure that we are as far as the state law over a hearing credit. I agree with you. I agree with him. He said, following the law is important. It's basically what he's saying. If you will let Ms. Kayla read it again, I agree with him. He said, following the law is important. It's basically what he's saying. If you will let Miss Kayla read it again, and what she reads, you put it in the form of a motion. Yeah. You can do that. About advice you might be able to say so moved. Yeah, that's what I was going to say. That might simplify. Yeah. So we're looking for a movement on the authorized, to authorize the director to execute the MOU with the, with DHHS. Some move. Joseph, would you second that or do you second that? I'm going to follow through the security. I understand there's some hesitation in other counties saying they're not sunny again. And if the journey's pointed out, there's some concern that what NCEH had just said, to the charge of state law. I don't know where I need to do this. Yeah, this this was already done in 2022. Like I say, the motion that is coming forth or has been presented is what based upon the advice of our legal counsel. And I would clarify it this way. I think the statute is clear that the Rutherford County DSS is obligated to enter into an agreement with DHHS. DHHS is certainly taking the position that we have no real choice about this. I think the statute backs them up. I think the concerns from certain DSS is, I think, with very legitimate concerns in the end, there's still an obligation to proceed with this in one form or another. I would state that the motion has stated authorizing the director if there will be a friendly amendment that Miss Steel would agree to, to amend this to say to authorize the director to negotiate and enter into. If there is some alteration change in this ability to push back and get a more favorable agreement, that would permit this hunt to do so without having to come back to the board. If that helps. It does. I'll second the button. I would. The chairman of the board now would ask this deal if she accepts that as her motion. I accept that as my motion. Kaylee, you got it. Just add an indicator sheet. And the indicator sheet. You know, this cable's out, do you? OK. I was like, I can't type that. And the indicator sheet. He just added that to my hand. Is there any further discussion on the motion in the second? Can I one more question? There have been many, many meetings, many, many conversations, many, many negotiations which the state made some changes. We're still continuing to negotiate some things. One of the things we're going to negotiate is the year. But would it be in the board's pleasure based on the mandate from the General Assembly and the law that I at least signed my part, get it in and wait to present the other and then send it in with Steve's signature. Absolutely. Now when you sign it, it's going to be on you. We're going to, we're authorizing the sign. Yes. Right. Okay. Thank you. Yes. All in favor, aye? Aye. Aye. Aye. Thank you. Thank you. First here. I'm done. If there's nothing else, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Make a motion that we're adjourned. I'll second the motion. All in favor. Aye. Aye.