AGENDA #5f

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            Human Services Advisory Board

 

SUBJECT:       2003 Human Services Needs Report

 

DATE:             January 27, 2003

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Each year the Human Services Advisory Board presents a Needs Report to advise the Town Council on needs, issues and gaps in human services for Chapel Hill residents.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The Chapel Hill Human Services Advisory Board was created in 1981. The Board is charged with the responsibility of keeping the Town Council informed about human service needs pertinent to Chapel Hill citizens. The Board facilitates a request for proposal process and invites local human service agencies to present program plans for Chapel Hill residents. 

 

The Human Services Advisory Board works cooperatively with Orange County and the Town of Carrboro to utilize a combined application process for human service agencies. Joint hearings with the Town of Carrboro permit service providers to present proposals to both towns simultaneously.

 

After completion of the hearings the Board meets to discuss the agency proposals and prepares recommendations to the Town Council on funding levels for local human service agencies. Last year, the Council approved Town allocations totaling $196,000 to meet identified human service needs. The allocations provided funding to 33 agencies.  

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

The Human Services Advisory Board has used the fall meetings to evaluate aspects of the Board’s duties and tasks. The Board continues to review the application process, relationships with the agencies, process for formulating funding recommendations and methods of assessing needs in the community. The Board seeks ways to clarify its role and improve accountability for the funding process. During the next fiscal year, the Board plans to consider ways to revise the funding application/process and pursue a consistent method for identifying priority needs of Chapel Hill citizens. Board members have contacted staff at the UNC School of Social Work to discuss possible assistance with developing a needs assessment strategy that can be used by the Board and Town staff each year.

 

Human service agencies continue to struggle with budget cuts and a decrease in contributions. The difficult economic conditions have resulted in an increased burden on the nonprofit agencies as well as the people they serve. Many agency directors have reported that staff reductions have been necessary in the last year. In the view of the Board, the general categories of need identified last year continue to be relevant:

 

·        Family and individual support toward self-sufficiency

·        Services for at-risk youth

·        Substance abuse treatment/prevention and mental health services

 

The Board also encourages agencies to develop and expand services to the increasing Hispanic population.

 

 

2003 Human Services Advisory Board members

 

Lew Borman; Chair                 

William Powers; Vice-Chair

Larry Daquioag

Julie Pace

Mary Reeb

Gary Wallach