The Alamance County Board of Commissioners voted to create a consolidated Human Services Agency and to appoint an initial slate of citizens and professionals to a consolidated Human Services Board.

A county staff presenter outlined the proposal, saying it would align the health department, the Family Justice Center and veterans services to provide a more integrated approach to client services. The board adopted a resolution to create the new agency and separate resolution to establish an oversight board.

The nominating committee — convened as required by state statute and including representatives from the Board of Health, the Veterans Services Committee and the Social Services Board — submitted an initial slate of 11 nominees. Commissioners added a county commissioner seat (Commissioner Allen) to the slate before approving it. The presenter and commissioners said additional advertising and recruitment will continue to fill required professional seats that remained vacant on the initial slate (the presentation identified vacancies for a psychiatrist, a social worker, an optometrist and a psychologist).

Board members discussed outreach to veterans and said a veterans advisory committee would remain engaged on veterans-related activities while the new board forms. The staff presenter said the new director for the consolidated agency was present in the meeting room and that the consolidated structure would not change federal or state program eligibility (for example, Medicaid rules) but would provide a single oversight structure and customer-facing approach.

Why it matters: consolidating oversight of multiple county human services aims to streamline referrals, give a single governance body for cross-cutting programs and create a defined recruitment path for statutory seats required by state law. Commissioners emphasized the goal of moving quickly so the board can begin advising the new director and supporting service delivery.

Ending: Commissioners approved the agency resolution and the initial slate and asked staff to continue recruiting for the remaining statutory seats and to return with any needed administrative steps to operationalize the agency.