TITLE: Title
Reconsideration of Human Services Funding for Diaper Bank of NC, Exchange Club’s Family Center of Alamance County, and Club Nova for Fiscal Year 2020-2021.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is for the Carrboro Town Council to reconsider human services funding allocations for the Diaper Bank of NC, Exchange Club’s Family Center of Alamance County, and Club Nova.
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DEPARTMENT: Housing and Community Services and Finance
CONTACT INFORMATION: Anne-Marie Vanaman, Management Assistant, 919-918-7321, amvanaman@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:amvanaman@townofcarrboro.org> Rebecca Buzzard, Housing and Community Services Director, 919-918-7438, rbuzzard@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:rbuzzard@townofcarrboro.org> and Arche McAdoo, Finance Director, 918-7439.
INFORMATION: At the April 28, 2020 Carrboro Town Council meeting, the Council approved funding for 47 of 49 applications for FY20-21 Human Services Funding. The Human Services Advisory Commission’s recommended allocations is provided in Attachment B.
Council Members did not approve funding for the Diaper Bank and Exchange Club’s Family Center of Alamance County and requested staff provide more information regarding the two.
Diaper Bank
The Diaper Bank of NC provides access to personal hygiene products for diapering, menstruation and adult incontinence to low-income households. Products are distributed through community partners in order to encourage access of additional beneficial services. The Diaper Bank requested $5,000 for FY20-21 to support the purchase of diapers and other personal hygiene products, the salary of their distribution coordinator and the expansion of a program to provide menstruation products to teens in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School system. Teachers report that students often miss school because they do not have these necessary products. The Human Services Advisory Commission supported their request, noting both the necessity of these products and their high cost, and underscored the importance of the Diaper Bank’s mission. The Human Services Advisory Commission recommended funding their request at $3,500.
Staff contacted Michelle Old, Executive Director of Diaper Bank, to discuss operations in Orange County during COVID-19 and its potential impact next fiscal year. Diaper Bank distributes products through two systems: closed systems, such as clinics or programs with an established client base; and open systems, with community partners who provide more walk-in assistance. In Orange County, Diaper Bank’s open system partner is the Compass Center.
COVID-19 affected the operations of its distribution partners so the Diaper Bank moved rapidly to ensure products are available to people who need them. Orange County DSS is distributing the products Compass Center would normally receive, and the Diaper Bank has added all locations of the Orange County Health Department to its distribution list. In addition, they are in talks with IFC about providing them with products.
Ms. Old reported that Orange County distribution has risen 300% since COVID began and that demand is so high they have had to purchase more diapers than usual because donations from manufacturers have not been adequate due to consumer hoarding.
COVID-19 will not prevent their proposed activities next fiscal year. If schools are closed, Old said they will find a way to provide products to students.
Exchange Club’s Family Center of Alamance County
The mission of the Exchange Club’s Family Center of Alamance County is to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect and to address complex trauma. They offer 9 programs and a 24-hour crisis line to families in 7 counties, including Orange County. The Exchange Club requested $1,500 to help support the Parent Aide program which is an evidence-based program providing home visitation for 6-18 months for families who are at-risk or if abuse has occurred. Participants in the Parent Aide program receive education, coaching, support, life skills and advocacy. Funds will be used to support personnel costs.
The Parent Aide program is projected to benefit 4 Carrboro individuals in FY20-21. They estimate the cost per individual to be $640.42, or a total of $2,561.68 for the Carrboro residents. They have operated the Parent Aide program in Orange County for 13 years and receive referrals from the court systems, DSS, CPS, and others.
The Human Services Advisory Commission recommended $500 in funding for FY20-21. This recommendation was based on their support of the mission and concern for children sheltering in place for extended periods of time with their caregivers during COVID-19.
Staff contacted Sarah Black, Executive Director of the Exchange Club’s Family Center of Alamance County, to learn how the Parent Aide program is being conducted during the pandemic. Considered essential employees, the Parent Aide program staff have used telehealth and social distancing visits, when safe to do so and all parties are comfortable. Their staff use gloves and masks and operate 6 feet or greater apart from clients in the visits. Clients also wear masks and information is transferred through plastic bagging. However, they plan to transition to all social distancing visits due to their concerns about the safety of the children who might be at greater risk for child abuse because of the stress of the situation of being at home.
Club Nova
Also at the April 28, 2020 Town Council meeting, the Council heard a request from Karen Dunn of Club Nova during the public comments portion of the meeting. Club Nova is requesting their Human Services funding be restored to its FY18-19 level of $20,000. (Club Nova received $19,000 in FY19-20.) Council directed staff to identify $4,000 in funds and bring back the item for consideration. The Human Services Advisory Commission recommended $16,000 for Club Nova in 2020-21.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: Should the Council decide to approve funding for Diaper Bank of NC and the Exchange Club’s Family Center of Alamance County; and increase funding for Club Nova, there will be no fiscal impact on the current year 2019-20 budget. Rather funding will be included in the Manager’s Recommended Budget for FY 2020-21.
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommends the Council consider approving these changes and amend the Human Services Advisory Commission funding recommendations for FY 2020-21. A resolution approving these Human Services funding recommendations is provided as Attachment A.