| Caroline County Social Services Addendum - Strategic Plan |
| Medical Needs |
| GOALS | ACTION STEPS | COMPLE-TION DATE | PERSONS RESPONSIBLE | OUTCOME |
| Expand and explore new programs to provide free/reduced cost prescriptions to citizens in need. | Search Internet for free drug programs Contact local medical service providers, re: existing programs Contact RAAA for info they may have Develop informational flyer on programs available Incorporate information into public awareness events | Mar-01 Mar-01 Mar-01 Mar-01 Apr-01 | Anne Tyree Angie Berman Doretta Hickman Doretta Hickman All committee members Speaker's Bureau | Informational brochure/flyer on all free prescription drug programs that may be utilized by Caroline County citizens. After publication, at least 500 citizens will receive this information within the first year. |
| Provide Caroline citizens more access to health services | Provide list of local health care providers to include medicine, dental, and eye care. Partner with a medical provider to have a health forum to determine the concerns and needs of the medical community in service the low income population Based on this meeting, develop cooperative agreements with area health care providers to serve our population. Nurture relationships by frequent provider contact | Nov-00 Feb-02 Apr-02 On-going | Jeanette Taylor-Bryant Mr. Ashcraft Anne Tyree Pat Wright Community Health Advisory Group All Committee Members All DSS Staff | Provider List Invitations to Forum; Forum is held Cooperative Agreements in Place Clients Receive Service |
| Community Improvement |
| GOALS | ACTION STEPS | COMPLE-TION DATE | PERSONS RESPONSIBLE | OUTCOME |
| Pursue community partnerships to develop services for youth | Initiate Task Group of potential partners (Alison Beverly, DARE officer, Salem Baptist, Ladysmith Baptist, Recreation Dept., Office of Youth, Head Start, SROs) Have Task Group develop plan to identify needs | Nov-00 Mar-01 | Committee Members Committee Members | |
| Expand programs to improve parenting skills | Promote Healthy Families Develop prevention focus with fellow service providers Investigate use of IV-E funding for prevention programs | On-going On-going On-going |
Staff Staff Committee Members |
| Crime Reduction and Prevention |
| GOALS | ACTION STEPS | COMPLE-TION DATE | PERSONS RESPONSIBLE | OUTCOME |
| Assist and partner with other community organizations to explore and implement new programs to reduce/prevent crimes | Establish Neighborhood Watch Programs Local Government participated in National Night Out Implement Crime Report Hotline for Planning District 16 Implement "Tell It" Program Utilize Victim Witness Program Work with security firms to provide low cost alarms systems to the public Increase CCSO officers, (Help with grant writing). Implementation of DSS Fraud program and prosecution of intention program violators | June-01 Aug-01 Aug-01 Aug-0l When hired June-01 Aug-01 Present and on-going | Kenny Berry Wendy Staples Kenny Berry Wendy Staples Kenny Berry Kenny Berry Cynthia Green Victim Witness/DV staff Victim Witness/DV staff/Kenny Kenny Berry | Established Activities planned for August 2001 Existence of Hotline Same Prevention Program in place Service available and advertised More Officers |
| Education |
| GOALS | ACTION STEPS | COMPLE-TION DATE | PERSONS RESPONSIBLE | OUTCOME |
| Partner with School to reduce truancy | Each DSS Worker will report to the school any child they know to be truant | On-going | All Staff | Chart/Documentation list of truants |
| Obtain School Truancy Policy | Sept-00 | Committee mbrs | ||
| Meet with School Student Support Specialist to address truancy issues and form plan to reduce/eliminate truancy | Dec-00 | Committee mbrs | ||
| Establish a contact of each school regarding student attendance - Furnish listing to staff | Sep-00 | Committee | ||
| Provide information regarding adult education opportunities offered by the school system | Obtain calendar of educational opportunities from the school system | Sep-00 | Committee | |
| Provide calendar of adult ed. opportunities to clients w/o GED or high school diploma | On-going | |||
| Enclose notices of adult ed. opportunities with food stamp mailings 1 - 2 x's a year | Dec-00/ On-going | Committee |
| Housing |
| GOALS | ACTION STEPS | COMPLE-TIONDATE | PERSONS RESPONSIBLE | OUTCOME |
| Raise awareness in the county government and citizens of the magnitude of the housing problem and the cost to the community | Use quarterly press releases | On-going | Mischelle Messenger | Articles published |
| Take decision makers on "Tour" of substandard housing | June-01 | Mischelle M. Keith S. (Quin) | Tour complete | |
| Inform citizens of ways to contact state, local, and federal decision makers | On-going | Quin Rivers | Lists are given out | |
| Inform citizens on the health and welfare impact of living in substandard housing | On-Going | All Staff | Distribute sheets | |
| Provide presentation on housing to the Board of Supervisors | Jun-01 | Mischelle M. Keith S. (Quin) | ||
| Identify community partners (Quin Rivers, VHC, Habitat for Humanity) to research funds available and best use of funds | Dec-00 | Mischelle Messenger |
Background
- The Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom unit is $618.00; one-bedroom is $522.
- 53% of renters in Virginia cannot afford a two-bedroom unit.
- A worker earning minimum wage of $5.15 per hour has to work 92 hours per week in order to afford a two-bedroom unit.
- The Housing wage in Virginia is $11.88. This is the amount a worker would have to earn per hour in order to only work 40 hours per week and afford rent on a two-bedroom apartment
- 1999 State TANF grant $291 - Maximum affordable housing cost is $87/month
- 1997 SSI Benefit $484 - Maximum affordable housing cost is $145/month.
| Public Transportation |
| GOALS | ACTION STEPS | COMPLE-TIONDATE | PERSONS RESPONSIBLE | OUTCOME |
| Assist County Administrator's Office in developing public transportation opportunities for Caroline County | Committee Members to volunteer to serve on Regional and/or County Transportation Committees. | Oct-00 | Committee Members |
| Marketing/Public Relations/Customer Service |
| GOALS | ACTION STEPS | COMPLE-TIONDATE | PERSONS RESPONSIBLE | OUTCOME |
| Enhance our positive working relationship with the community | Develop and distribute press releases monthly to local newspapers | June-01 On-going | Supervisory Staff | Scrapbook of articles |
| Develop an internation Speakers Group with a pre-prepared presentation/informational packet | Dec-00 | Cynthia Green | List of speakers packets prepared | |
| Develop a calendar which assigns designated speakers to all civic groups in the county | Dec-00 | Mary Benner | Calendar complete | |
| Develop a "cheat sheet" on the ways the public can help | Dec-00 | Wendy Staples & Mary Benner | Cheat Sheet Complete | |
| Develop an annual report | Nov-00 | Cynthia Green | Report Complete | |
| Have display booths at county events | On-going | Mary Benner | Info to citizens | |
| Incorporate DSS info into county website | June-01 | Anne Tyree Mary Benner | ||
| Inform citizens about services for which they may be eligible | On-going | DSS Staff | ||
| Develop new partnerships to link agency with community | On-going | All Staff | ||
| Be the model for excellence in the delivery of social services | Implement outreach stations | On-going | Staff | |
| Flyers and brochures to be developed, re: benefit/service programs | On-going | Staff | ||
| Disseminate services in an efficient & effective manner | On-going | All Staff | ||
| Develop customer satisfactiom survey to be given randomly | Accomplished/ On-going | Anne Tyree | ||
| Delineate written procedures for giving survey | Accomplished/ On-going | Anne Tyree | ||
| Ensure agency staff has an overview of duties of each unit within the agency and the programs | Sep-00/ On-going | Communications Group (DSS) | ||
| Provide employees with current resources necessary to provide the best services</td> | On-going | Supervisors | ||
| Provide exceptional communication between internal and external customers | Develop standard operating procedures | Jan-01 | DSS Management Team | SOP's |
| Hold staff accountable for following SOP's and incorporating training into their daily activities | Jan-01 | Supervisors Director | ||
| Involve all staff in the accomplishment of the strategic planning goals | On-going | Supervisors Director | ||
| Recruit, hire and maintain exemplary personnel | On-going | Cynthia Green Management Team |
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| Use staff feedback to improve the work environment | On-going | |||
| Provide an exceptional reward and recognition program | On-going | |||
| Promote employee wellness program | On-going | |||
| Each staff person participate in community organization | On-going | Supervisors | ||
| Increased/Streamlined training opportunities for all staff | On-going | Supervisors |