Alamance County staff present proposal to form consolidated human services agency; commissioners ask for more detail

County staff presented a proposal to create a consolidated human services agency (CHSA) that would place the health department, Veteran Services and the Family Justice Center under a single agency umbrella and establish a consolidated human services board to advise and consent on leadership and policy.

County Manager York and health department staff said the proposal is intended to be budget-neutral and would not add new positions. Tony (presenter) explained the statutory basis for consolidated boards, noting a 2012 session law that allows counties to adopt consolidated human services governance. He said roughly 34 counties in the state have adopted some consolidated model, though the proposed Alamance configuration — combining health, veterans and the Family Justice Center — would be unusual.

Staff outlined two governance options under state law: an appointed consolidated human services board (similar to the current Board of Health model but larger and with additional technical positions) or for the Board of County Commissioners to assume the consolidated board’s powers while creating an advisory board. Staff described required statutory board roles that include a mix of technical professionals (for example, physicians and a psychiatrist), up to four consumers of services, and other public members; the statutory cap for membership is 25, but staff recommended a working size of 15 for manageability.

Staff said the CHSA director would be appointed by the county manager with advice and consent of the consolidated board and would report to the county manager. Staff also raised the option of removing public health employees from the State Human Resources Act to place health personnel under county policies for greater flexibility in recruitment and position classification; presenters illustrated that some current state job classifications (for example a “Dentist 3” classification) no longer fit modern job duties and limit reclassification.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about board composition, oversight authority, the status of existing advisory boards (staff said creating a consolidated human services board would dissolve the Board of Health and other redundant advisory bodies), and how the configuration would respond to upcoming Medicaid eligibility changes. Commissioners repeatedly requested further analysis of expected efficiencies, the effect on veterans’ representation, whether the model would affect day-to-day eligibility work in Social Services, and a proposed timeline for action. Several commissioners expressed support for moving ahead to collect more detail; one commissioner emphasized ensuring a “loud voice” for veterans on the consolidated board.

Staff recommended next steps including forming a pre-nominating committee (statutorily drawn from existing boards), drafting a resolution if the board chooses to proceed, and returning to the board at the second meeting in October with a proposed resolution and nomination slate. Presenters told commissioners they could begin coordinating with the Board of Health and other advisory boards immediately if the board gives a nod to proceed; commissioners indicated support for continuing the work but took no formal vote this evening.

Ending: Staff will return with more detailed proposals, a recommended board size and composition, a timeline and anticipated implementation steps; commissioners signaled interest in moving forward and requested specific material on anticipated efficiencies and consumer representation.