Five Biggest Public Health Issues in Mecklenburg County Tobacco: the leading preventable cause of death, disease and disability. Physical activity & healthy eating: Lack of physical activity & poor nutrition contribute to health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): As of e 2015, there are an estimated 5,334 persons living with HIV/AIDS in the County who are aware of their status. However, as many as 1 in 8 are unaware of their infection. Unintended Pregnancy: a pregnancy that was either unwanted or mistimed. Violence: is not traditionally understood as a public health issue but this is beginning to change as data illustrate the impacts on other community health indicators such as academic achievement, substance abuse and mental health. 16 131
Financial Assistance for Senior Assistance: Prescription Drugs Question: Provide scenarios for the additional number of senior citizens that would receive financial assistance based on an increase in funding. Response: This is difficult to project for (3) reasons: 1. The type of medicine needed per client varies. 2. The per client medicine cost varies. 3. The reimbursement provided by DSS to MedAssist is at cost (which is drastically cheaper) for purchasing the medication in comparison to utilizing another pharmacist/vendor where the County would be required to pay the full retail value. Scenarios: Below, is an estimate based on total FY2015 spend, divided by the number of customer served, based on incremental funding increase: FY2015 Additional Customers Served via Additional Funds Number of Customers Funds Spent Per Client Average $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 311 $ 5,329 $17.14 # of clients served 584 1,167 1,751 17 Financial Assistance for Senior Citizens: Transportation Question: Provide scenarios for the additional number of senior citizens that would receive financial assistance based on an increase in funding. Response: The Elderly General Purpose (EGP) transportation program, funded through local ½ cent sales tax, is the only funding dedicated solely for senior transportation. The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) allocates approximately $112,000 to DSS annually for the EGP program. This program has served 85 customers FY2016 to date but has been closed to new customers for several years. Increased funding would provide additional transportation for seniors as follows: Transportation--based on a average one-way trip cost of $18.50 on an average miles/trip of 7.6: Additional Funding Number of new customers @ 1 round trip/week for six months Number of new customers @ 1 round trip/week for 1 year $50,000 56 28 $100,000 112 56 $500,000 563 281 $1,000,000 1,126 563 $2,000,000 2,252 1,126 18 132
Upward Mobility: Net Job Growth Total Employment Mecklenburg Wake Forsyth Guilford Durham 700,000 554,820 561,803 585,156 578,923 606,857 606,798 630,412 637,319 525,000 350,000 175,000 2012 2013 2014 2015 Preliminary Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics 19 Upward Mobility: Unemployment Rate 12.0 Unemployment Rate, Unadjusted Mecklenburg Wake 9.2 9.1 9.0 8.3 8.1 6.0 6.2 6.2 4.7 5.7 5.1 3.0 2012 2013 2014 2015 Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics 20 133
Upward Mobility: What can be done to create new jobs & decrease unemployment The Economic Development Department is guiding the Board & the Economic Development Committee through the process of developing a comprehensive strategy to address job creation through the following areas: Enhanced job attraction and retention efforts Workforce development strategies Small business creation & support strategies Building strong communities connected to employment centers Using County resource to enhance and grow tourism economy 21 County Apprenticeship Program Current Programs: Recreation Employment Corps a 40 week job training for teens ages 14 17 or s Youth Employment Program 20 hours a week employment of high school students in County departments Library Volunteer Program offers a teen summer volunteer program that provide workforce development skills for teens Community Partnerships: Goodwill Industries: the County partners with Goodworks to identify applicants for entry level positions with the Department of Social Services Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC): the County partners with CPCC to administer the Veteran s Apprenticeship program. Medic: the agency would like to create a program that assists high school graduates in developing skills needed for a career as an Emergency Medical Technician. 22 134
Creation of a County Apprenticeship Program Current Program Costs Program Age Group Hours per week Number of Weeks Hourly Rate Number of Participants Total Cost* Recreation Employment 14 17 10 40 $7.25 43 $134,240 MYEP 16 18 20 8 $8.00 83 $114,367 Library Program 13 18 varies Varies Volunteer 134 0 Total 260 $248,607 Option Number of Teens Program Expansion Hours per week Hourly Rate Number of Weeks Total Cost* 1 500 20 $8.00 12 $1,033,440 2 700 20 $8.00 8 $964,544 *Includes FICA (7.65%) 23 Park & Recreation Master Plan Process There are (4) guiding principles that were followed in 2007 to rank projects & select projects in preparation for the bond package that should continue to be used. Guiding Principals: 1. Make data driven decisions based on the master plan and current conditions: The 2008 Master Plan and the 2014 update are citizen driven with input from professional staff, advisory boards and the Park and Recreation Commission. 2. Provide geo equitable distribution of projects: assist with filling gaps in services and facilities work to ensure projects are occurring in all regions of the county. 3. Include projects in all categories based on priorities in the master plan: The plan identifies a list of needs so projects should fit those needs. Consider service gaps, completing phased projects, partnership opportunities & building on land banked properties. 4. Address deferred maintenance: The master plan identifies and ranks maintenance and repair needs for all facility types 24 135
Revaluation Preparation Status Update Current Initiatives Field canvasing property verification Neighborhood analysis & review Improvement analysis & review Sales analysis & data collection Offsite appeal locations Public relations improve communication Quality control Technology upgrade appraisal system Refining current process Future Initiatives Land analysis, valuation, & review Improvement analysis, valuation, & review Staffing model ensure proper staffing level Test refined valuation model Citizen review schedule of values Staff training Quality control finalized values & reappraisals Mail notices of values Appeal process review of appeals 25 Homeless Court Update Most offenses committed by the homeless are not a threat to public safety, may be eligible for diversion, and do not require extensive punitive measures to be helped. Homeless courts tend to help individuals after they have entered the justice system rather than diverting them from it. A specialty court would not provide the tailored support that the homeless need. A recommendation suggested the creation of a Homeless Justice Team (HJT) consisting of a licensed mental health clinician, a senior social worker, & a peer support specialist. A recommendation to expand MeckFuse to serve the frequent users The HJT will divert the homeless from the justice system when possible by meeting them where they are, and connecting them with resources to help prevent low level offenses. If diversion is not possible, HTJ will work with the courts & the jail to help the individual exit the system. 26 136
Barber Scotia College On Campus Student Program Challenges that create barriers for establishing a Barber Scotia on campus program McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act: prohibits segregating students and youth who meet the definition of homeless The geographic location would require a school to be established by Cabarrus County Schools on the campus Another option would be the establishment of a charter school open to all NC students The City of Concord demolished two dormitory facilities on the campus due to their advanced state of disrepair; this calls into question the school s ability to house the students It was recently announced that College cancelled its spring semester 2016 courses and intends to resume its classes in the fall of 2016. 28 137
Childcare & Pre Kindergarten Financial Assistance Child Care subsidy is provided for individuals who qualify on the basis of income eligibility Child Care & Pre K subsidy for low income families is currently provided with no regard of the academic level of the child. Child care costs vary per child and the quality of the facility they attend. Because the demand for subsidies is so high, the current allocation only serves existing families, as well as any new referrals based on the top two categories: Child Protective Services & Employment. Example of programs: Smart Start Bright Beginnings NC Pre K Early Head Start/Head Start 29 Homeless Update Refer to detailed response in binder 30 138
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