) STOKES COUNTY GOVERNMENT
COUNTY OF STOKES ) DANBURY, NORTH CAROLINA
) APRIL 27, 2005
The Board of Commissioners of the County of Stokes, State of North
Carolina, met in recessed session (recessed from the April 25th
regular meeting) in the Council Chambers of the Ronald Wilson Reagan Memorial
Building (Administrative Building), located in Danbury, North Carolina, on
Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at 6:00 pm with the following
members present:
Chairman
John Turpin
Vice-Chairman
Leon Inman
Commissioner
Sandy McHugh
Commissioner
Joe Turpin
Commissioner
Jimmy Walker
County
Manager Richard Morris
Clerk
to the Board Darlene Bullins
Finance
Director Julia Edwards
DSS
Director Jan Spencer
Chairman John Turpin called the recessed meeting to order.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT – SOCIAL
SERVICES- WORK FIRST REVISIONS(CONTINUATION)
Commissioner McHugh moved to approve the following Amendments to the
Stokes County Work First Plan (2005-07):
AMENDMENT TO THE STOKES COUNTY WORK FIRST
PLAN
2005-2007
The following revisions/clarifications were made per the request of the
Economic Independence Section of the North Carolina Department of Health and
Human Services, Division of Social Services.
On
pages 10 and 15, reference is made to increasing child support orders and
collections by 2%. This has been
changed to 5% in FY 06.
All
references to “father” in the Plan are amended to read “absent parent.”
On
pages 10, 16 and 35, references to safety plans, protection plans, and
assessments have been changed to read:
In families where the adult members refuse to find or accept employment
and are unable to meet the children’s minimum level of care, based on current
statutes, the children may require placement with relatives/foster care where
the child’s needs can be met. All
children in the Work First program who are receiving Child Protective Services
will have a safety assessment and a subsequent safety response, if necessary.
See attachment A
letter from the Stokes County Attorney is attached.
On
pages 17 and 30, reference made to family planning have been changed to read: If requested, we will refer parents and
children over the age of 16, to approved family planning classes.
The
monthly check registers containing a list of all Work First Family Assistance
recipients, their addresses, and benefit amounts will be available for public
inspection, unless otherwise exempted by state law, during the regular office
hours of the County Finance Officer. However, as directed by state law
[N.C.G.S. §108A-80(b)], neither the registers nor the information contained
therein may be used for any commercial or political purpose.
We
will follow all Medicaid rules and regulations per the NCDHHS Family and
Children’s Medicaid Manual. This note
has been added on pages 15, 31, and 34.
On
page 14, reference made to providing child-care for up to a two-year period has
been deleted. Child-care will be
provided as clients are eligible.
When
referring to sanctions, the period of ineligibility begins at the date of the
job quit or failure to meet requirement. This note has been added on pages 14,
15, 22, 34, and 38.
We
will follow state guidelines for all sanctions, except where our Plan is more
restrictive. This note has been added
on pages 21 and 37.
On
pages 19 and 41, reference is made to Community Service Programs. This has been
changed to read: We will continue to
refer applicants/recipients to an established Community Service Program in the
community.
On
page 29, under Section VII: Change 150%
to 200%.
Commissioner Joe Turpin seconded the motion.
The Board continued discussion concerning the submitted amendments to
the Stokes County Work First Plan (2005-07).
Commissioner Walker expressed concerns about the sanction that would be
imposed (for a year) by the Work First Plan for quitting a job without just
cause.
Director Spencer explained the process which would occur if this
sanction was imposed to the recipient.
Commissioner McHugh (Chairman of the Work First Committee) explained
that the Committee’s reasoning for the harsh sanction for quitting a job
without good cause was to encourage
Work First recipients to stay employed and be responsible. The Plan also rewards recipients for getting
and keeping a job.
The Board discussed the pros and cons of the sanction that would be
imposed (for a year) by the Work First Plan for quitting a job without just
cause and questioned other provisions in order to protect children at
risk. Director Spencer confirmed those
provisions were already in place.
Director Spencer stated that the Plan could and would be monitored and
with this being the County’s plan, amendments could be approved at
anytime.
Director Spencer suggested monitoring the plan for 3 months and
reporting back to the Board.
Chairman John Turpin requested that DSS monitor the plan as suggested
for three months, but if problems occurred in the first month, report back to
the Board.
The motion to approve the Amendments to the Stokes County Work First
Plan 2005/07 carried unanimously.
There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairman John
Turpin entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Commissioner McHugh moved to adjourn the meeting.
Vice Chairman Inman seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
_________________________
_____________________________
Darlene M. Bullins
John M. Turpin
Clerk to the Board Chairman