Council Social Services/Community Development Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Social Services & Community Development Committee met on December 4, 2012, at 11:00 a.m., with Myers presiding. The committee addressed four agenda items during the session, including two informational presentations, one approval action, and a review of referral items. The committee took one vote during the meeting and heard three public comments. Key accomplishments included approval of the Emergency Solutions Grant and receipt of informational updates on the Bluegrass Occupational Outlook to 2018 and the UK Department of Social Work Social Services Needs Assessment Update.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on December 4, 2012:

• Myers
• Henson
• Ellinger
• Kay
• Ford
• Lawless
• Stinnett
• Crosbie
• McChord
• Lane

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

Motion to Agree to the Summary

A motion to agree to the summary was made by Henson 5:00. The motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The following individuals voted in favor: Myers, Henson, Ellinger, Kay, Ford, Lawless, Stinnett, Crosbie, McChord, and Lane. No votes were cast against the motion, and there were no abstentions.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included two related financial actions involving Emergency Solutions Grant funds.

Emergency Solutions Grant to Salvation Army

The body approved Emergency Solutions Grant funds totaling $23,174 for the Salvation Army.

Reallocation of Emergency Solutions Grant Funds

An amendment reallocated $23,174 in Emergency Solutions Grant funds to the Bluegrass Domestic Violence Program. This reallocation represented a transfer of the same amount previously designated, redirecting resources to support domestic violence services.

Public Comment

Three council members addressed the meeting with comments on workforce development, data systems, and economic support.

Council Member Lane 1:15:15 discussed urban population trends and workforce development. Lane raised questions about rural-to-urban migration and its effects on Lexington, emphasizing the need for workforce training and support services for low-income families.

Council Member Lawless 1:21:40 focused on data integrity and support services. Lawless expressed concerns about data discrepancies in the HMIS system and stressed the importance of support services for at-risk families, particularly those with low education levels.

Council Member Ford 1:30:13 addressed economic opportunity and job training. Ford highlighted the issue of the working poor and emphasized the importance of training programs that lead to jobs with livable wages.

Contested Items

Reallocation of Emergency Solutions Grant Funds

A procedural dispute arose regarding the handling of Emergency Solutions Grant funds that the Salvation Army had declined to accept. The Salvation Army's refusal to accept the grant was based on concerns about HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) data integrity. This declination created a question about the appropriate course of action for the funds that had originally been awarded to the organization.

The central disagreement concerned whether the funds should be reallocated to another agency despite the original grant award having been made to the Salvation Army. This raised procedural questions about grant management, the conditions under which funds could be redirected, and which agency or agencies might be eligible to receive the reallocated resources.

Bluegrass Occupational Outlook to 2018

Ron Crouch from the Kentucky Cabinet for Education and Workforce Development presented the Bluegrass Occupational Outlook to 2018 53:47. The presentation focused on job growth trends in the region and emphasized the critical need for workforce training and development.

Key Topics Covered

The presentation highlighted job growth projections through 2018 and identified occupational trends relevant to the Bluegrass area. A central theme of the discussion was the importance of ensuring that available jobs provide wages sufficient to sustain families, addressing concerns about the quality and sustainability of employment opportunities in the region.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, providing the meeting attendees with data and analysis regarding occupational outlook and workforce development needs in the Bluegrass region.

UK Department of Social Work Social Services Needs Assessment Update

Dr. Diane Leffler and University of Kentucky students presented a progress update on an ongoing social services needs assessment for Fayette County 5:00.

Presentation Overview

The team reported on their work to identify and understand social services gaps and needs within the county. The assessment involved conducting interviews with 21 partner agencies to gather information about current service provision and unmet needs.

Key Findings

The presentation highlighted several emerging themes from the partner agency interviews, with food and utility assistance identified as significant areas of need within the community.

Team Members

The presentation was delivered by Dr. Diane Leffler along with University of Kentucky students Josh Nadzam, Rachel Ratliff, and Veronica Whitlock.

Next Steps

The team outlined plans to continue the assessment process through: - Future surveys - Additional stakeholder interviews

Outcome

This agenda item was presented for informational purposes, providing the meeting attendees with an update on the progress of the social services needs assessment work being conducted in partnership with the University of Kentucky.

Emergency Solutions Grant

Director Irene Gooding reported on the status of the Emergency Solutions Grant. The Salvation Army declined to accept the grant due to HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) data integrity issues.

In response to this decline, the committee discussed reallocating the grant funds to an alternative recipient. The Bluegrass Domestic Violence Program was identified as a suitable option for receiving the redirected funds. A key advantage of this reallocation is that the Bluegrass Domestic Violence Program is exempt from HMIS requirements, which would eliminate the data integrity concerns that led to the Salvation Army's initial decline.

The committee approved this reallocation, allowing the Emergency Solutions Grant funds to be redirected to the Bluegrass Domestic Violence Program.

1:34:28

Committee Referral Items

1:30:13

The committee discussed workforce development initiatives, with speakers Ford and Crouch addressing the need for expanded training opportunities and job quality standards.

Key Discussion Points:

• Vocational Training Focus: The committee emphasized the importance of vocational training programs targeting high-growth sectors, specifically health care and technology industries.

• Wage Standards: A central concern raised during the discussion was ensuring that available jobs provide livable wages for workers entering these sectors.

Outcome:

This item was presented for informational purposes, with no formal action taken at this time.