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Catawba County: Award Winning Government
Mrs. Rebecca Hart Preservation Award – presented to the Catawba County Planning Department by the Catawba County Historical Association for their ongoing cooperation and partnership in making Bunker Hill Covered Bridge a more accessible park and attractive destination. The Historical Association annually presents the Rebecca Hart Preservation Award in recognition of Mrs. Hart's decades of exemplary service to the Historical Association, Catawba Valley Pottery & Antiques Festival, and, of course, Hart Square.
N.C. Department of Labor Public Sector Star Award – presented to Catawba County Public Health for the second time in a row. The Carolina Star, including the Public Sector Star award, is the most prestigious safety recognition given by the N.C. Department of Labor. Organizations that qualify for the award have exemplary safety and health programs in the workplace. Catawba County Public Health is the third health department in North Carolina to be recognized as a Public Sector Star site. There are currently four total Star sites in Catawba County and 151 across the state.
American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline EMS Silver Award – presented to Catawba County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks. The Mission: Lifeline program helps hospitals and emergency medical services develop systems of care that follow proven standards and procedures for acute coronary syndrome patients. Agencies that receive the Mission: Lifeline Silver award have demonstrated at least 75 percent compliance for each required achievement measure for one year.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Government Partnership Award – presented to the Catawba County Board of Commissioners for the North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s South Central District. One of five given regionally across North Carolina each year, the award recognizes a County's collaboration with Extension in innovative and inclusive ways, involvement of County elected officials in Extension-related educational programs, and notable resource contributions that support Extension programs.
Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada Distinguished Budget Presentation Award – presented to the Catawba County Budget Office for development of an easily understood budget document which can be used by other governmental units or the average citizen. This is the 27th consecutive year in which the Catawba County Budget Office has won the award, which is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting.
North Carolina Public Library Directors Association 2014-2015 Outstanding New Library Facility Recognition – presented to the Sherrills Ford-Terrell Branch of the Catawba County Library and its Director Suzanne White for the vibrant and service-oriented library system’s new branch and its easily accessible information and technology.
North Carolina Public Library Directors Association 2014-2015 Public Relations Award – presented to the Catawba County Library and its Director Suzanne White for medium sized libraries. The Library created a simplified identity system, unifying its internal and public facing printed literature. Brochure, poster and newsletter templates were specifically designed to create a simple, clean presentation that internal contributors could easily follow and update. Public relations campaigns or products from public libraries around the state were judged on their Originality, Ability to be Replicated, Involvement with Other Community Organizations, Relationship to the library’s Mission, Effectiveness of Publicity and Results to Cost Ratio.
National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards: County Library TechConnect – a space where citizens explore and learn about technology, improve digital literacy, and gain hands-on experience with professional design and engineering tools. The TechConnect space offers low- to no-cost public access to resources like GoPro cameras, 3D scanners and printers, digital cutters, and sewing machines, ensuring equitable access to technologies that enrich and improve lives through open access to information, communication, and technology services. Equipped with both Windows and Apple products and staffed by a dedicated digital services librarian, TechConnect programs include training workshops and one-on-one assistance.
County Tax Office Educators of Revaluation – the creation of a uniform, transparent, detailed presentation of the revaluation process, shifting from a predominantly written narrative format to a more dynamic visual approach which has resulted in greater understanding among citizens and Board members and a higher degree of professionalism and consistency.
Social Services Trauma Informed Practice Model – an integrated, holistic approach to child welfare that emphasizes safety, permanency, and the importance of dealing with the short- and long-term effects of trauma. Through this approach, a multi-disciplinary staff team administers screening tools, functional assessments, and training to child welfare caseworkers, supervisors, and foster parents to help identify and manage situations in which trauma may be involved and help achieve better outcomes for children and youth receiving these services.
Social Services Web Portal for Emancipated Youth – provides a secure, streamlined place to store and access critical documents youth may need as they transition to adulthood. In the past, youth were provided hard copies of important documents that, if lost or misplaced, resulted in delays in accessing services and getting replacement documents. Along with enhancing services by providing links to useful resources, the portal has helped save time and frustration for newly emancipated youth.
Information Technology Performance Dashboard – an interactive web-based tool that provides graphs, narratives, and performance indicators to organize information about Catawba County in an easy-to-access format. This comprehensive dashboard provides employees, citizens, and people interested in Catawba County a clean and intuitive tool to see data, including County demographics, County Government services, and the status of County performance in key goal areas, all in one place on any web-connected device and in a format that is uniquely scaled for that device.
National Recycling Coalition Outstanding Community or Government Program Award- recognizing the County’s commitment to environmental sustainability, including recycling efforts and being kind to the environment. This award from the National Recycling Coalition recognizes dedicated efforts made by citizens, businesses, school systems, and cities and towns.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Government Partnership Award- presented to the Catawba County Board of Commissioners, which the Extension recognized as being incredibly supportive of the Cooperative Extension Service and has helped gain access to needed resources and maintain departmental capacity in a time of State cutbacks and position losses in the organization."
Carolina Association of Governmental Purchasing Sustained Professional Purchasing Award- recognizing the County's technology, minority outreach, staff certification, customer training, vendor training, and the use of recycled products to once again be recognized for their excellence in purchasing standards by the Carolinas Association of Governmental Purchasing.
International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Community Sustainability Program Excellence Award:
Public Health Farmers Market- In partnership with the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, the Farmers Market’s goal is to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables while providing a new outlet for locally grown produce. WIC clients receive Farmers Market Nutritional Program vouchers when available to supplement their WIC food benefits with fresh, local produce during the summer months. Of the customers surveyed in the summer of 2014, 84.4% said the market helped increase the amount of fresh produce their family ate. Among surveyed WIC clients, the number was 94.6%. Following the market’s second season the WIC program had the highest voucher redemption rate in North Carolina at 64.37%.
Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU) Excellence in Innovation Award:
County Library Community Garden Program- a collaboration with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Catawba Center and other local groups to grow local vegetables and minds, as well as provide learning opportunities and a chance to give back to the community. The produce is donated to community food banks while the garden itself provides a setting for Library programs and events. Digital County Survey Award- presented by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) which ranked Catawba County as the number one ranked county nationally in its Top 10 Digital Counties Survey Awards, among counties across the nation with a population between 150,000 and 249,999 people. This is the second time in three years that Catawba County has been ranked number one. The CDG is a national research and advisory institute focused on IT policies and best practices in state and local government. The survey, conducted annually by CDG and Government Technology, in partnership with the National Association of Counties, evaluates entrants on their ability to demonstrate successful outcomes through the strategic use of technology. According to information from the CDG, the highest ranked counties, “earned top rankings in their respective population categories for effectively and efficiently using digital technologies to serve their citizens, streamline operations and achieve measurable benefits.” National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards: County Library Early Literacy Outreach - Every Child Ready to Read program- a collaboration with local agencies, including the Catawba County Partnership for Children, through which the Library expanded its capacity to improve the early literacy and digital literacy skills of young children. It includes outreach to children in local daycares. County Library Community Garden Progrm- a collaboration with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Catawba Center and other local groups to grow local vegetables and minds, as well as provide learning opportunities and a chance to give back to the community. The produce is donated to community food banks while the garden itself provides a setting for Library programs and events. Public Health's Smoke-Free Initiative- a collaborative effort with Catawba County and six municipalities (Brookford, Catawba, Claremont, Conover, Hickory and Newton) to adopt tobacco-free campus policies or ordinances within the span of one year. Through this initiative, Public Health facilitated local movement toward tobacco-free government buildings, grounds and parks after first working with Catawba County to expand its smoke-free campus policy to a tobacco-free policy in March 2013. J. Robert Havlick Award from the Innovation Group: Public Health Farmers Market- Presented annually to the most innovative program among those nominated across the United States. In partnership with the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, the Farmers Market’s goal is to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables while providing a new outlet for locally grown produce. WIC clients receive Farmers Market Nutritional Program vouchers when available to supplement their WIC food benefits with fresh, local produce during the summer months. Of the customers surveyed in the summer of 2014, 84.4% said the market helped increase the amount of fresh produce their family ate. Among surveyed WIC clients, the number was 94.6%. Following the market’s second season the WIC program had the highest voucher redemption rate in North Carolina at 64.37%. Harvard University Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation "Bright Ideas" Award: Child Wellbeing Project of Catawba County Social Services, which works with families when children leave foster care under age 16 for their reunified, guardianship or adoptive families. These families are offered the opportunity to receive up to two years of extended services. They have a success coach, who works with them to enhance parenting, communication and other life skills. Catawba County Regional EcoComplex and Resource Recovery Facility, a system designed to recover all useable products and by-products from a group of private and public partners located in a close-knit defined area which, through shared resources among partners, focuses on making and using “green” energy and on the economic development of Catawba County. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for creation of an easily readable and understandable comprehensive annual financial report covering all funds and financial transactions during the fiscal year. This is the 33rd consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. Only about 2% of local governments across the U.S. and Canada have won the award for 20 years in a row. Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award, Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for its Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2013. The award is presented to local government finance offices that create a report which gives highlights of the County’s fiscal year in a summary format. This is the seventh consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada Distinguished Budget Presentation Award- presented to the Catawba County Budget Office for development of an easily understood budget document which can be used by other governmental units or the average citizen. This is the 26th consecutive year in which the Catawba County Budget Office has won the award, which is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. 2014: National Association of Counties Achievement Awards: Commercial Recycling Program- a free and voluntary program that encourages local businesses to take proactive steps to improve their environmental record while improving their bottom-line. The program recognizes businesses in Catawba County that operate in an environmentally friendly manner by practicing the 4R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle, rebuy). The Commercial Recycling Program currently includes nineteen businesses. Companies enrolled in the program are able to access a wide range of data and assistance including a 49-page Resource Guide For Commercial Recycling And Waste Reduction. Program partners receive technical assistance at no cost. County staff helps partners find markets for their recyclable materials, both locally and around the state. Remote Access Permitting Terminal or RAPT- provides real-time interaction between a citizen needing a permit at Hickory City Hall and a Permit Center Specialist located in the Catawba County Government Center in Newton. RAPT gives customers the ability to apply for and obtain residential and trade permits, or ask questions and receive answers about the permitting process from a remote location. RAPT utilizes video conferencing technology to allow citizens and contractors seamless interaction with Permit Center staff without the added time and expense of travelling from Hickory to Newton to conduct business. The system has allowed the County’s permitting process to evolve and maintain a high level of customer service without hiring additional staff to physically operate a second office. Public Health Farmers Market- a partnership with the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, the market’s goal is to improve individual and community health by increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. WIC clients receive Farmers Market Nutritional Program vouchers when available to supplement their WIC food benefits with fresh, local produce during the summer months. Of the 415 customers surveyed at last year’s market, 88.4% said the market helped increase the amount of fresh produce their family ate. For surveyed WIC clients, that number was 95%. With the addition of this new market to our community, the WIC program had the third highest redemption rate, 62.9%, of Farmers Market Nutritional Program vouchers in North Carolina last year. The statewide average, which tends to hover around 50%, was 48.47% in 2013. Social Services’ Children and Youth Investment Team (CAY-IT)- seeks to streamline the process for finding permanent placements for children in foster care, resulting in less trauma for the child and faster decisions. CAY-IT brings together professionals from several different governmental units to work collaboratively in planning for permanent placements for foster children who have been in care longer than average. The program has improved permanency planning for children in foster care by bringing a wide range of expertise to the planning process,” Arrowood added. “No longer are social workers making decisions without input from partners from the mental health and legal systems, which also impact these children. The result is a faster, better decision-making process. International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Community Sustainability Program Excellence Award- Presented to the Immigrant Agriculture Program, a cooperative effort of Catawba County Government, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension-Catawba Center and the Cooperative Extension Program at North Carolina A&T State University, which works primarily with Hmong farmers living in Catawba County to help them become more successful in growing and marketing their produce. Alliance For Innovation Outstanding Achievement in Local Government Innovations Award- Presented to the Child Wellbeing Project of Social Services, which works with families when children leave foster care under age 16 for their reunified, guardianship or adoptive families. These families are offered the opportunity to receive up to two years of extended services. They have a success coach, who works with them to enhance parenting, communication and other life skills. North Carolina State Treasurer's Governmental Award for Excellence in Accounting and Financial Management- Presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for the ways in which that office improved "efficiency in accounting through its use of electronic processing and storage of accounts payable files, including supporting documentation." Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for creation of an easily readable and understandable comprehensive annual financial report covering all funds and financial transactions during the fiscal year. This is the 32nd consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. Only about 2% of local governments across the U.S. and Canada have won the award for 20 years in a row. Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award, Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for its Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2013. The award is presented to local government finance offices that create a report which gives highlights of the County’s fiscal year in a summary format. This is the sixth consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada Distinguished Budget Presentation Award- presented to the Catawba County Budget Office for development of an easily understood budget document which can be used by other governmental units or the average citizen. This is the 25th consecutive year in which the Catawba County Budget Office has won the award, which is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. 2013: National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards Performance Dashboard- awarded to the Catawba County Facts and Figures page, which may be accessed at http://www.catawbacountync.gov/budget/PerformanceDashboard.asp, that offers users a choice of exploring data grouped into eight broad categories. Clicking on the button for each category allows the user to drill down into many other data sets within that content area. Created by County Budget Analyst Paul Murray, the dashboard offers users the choice of seeking data on General County Information, Education, Public Safety, Human Services, Economic and Physical Development, Culture, Environmental Quality and General Government. Once a user selects one of those broad topics, he or she will be taken to another screen with additional choices Digital County Survey award- presented by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) which ranked Catawba County as the number one ranked county nationally in its Top 10 Digital Counties Survey Awards, among counties across the nation with a population between 150,000 and 249,999 people. The CDG is a national research and advisory institute focused on IT policies and best practices in state and local government. The survey, conducted annually by CDG and Government Technology, in partnership with the National Association of Counties, evaluates entrants on their ability to demonstrate successful outcomes through the strategic use of technology. According to information from the CDG, the highest ranked counties, “earned top rankings in their respective population categories for effectively and efficiently using digital technologies to serve their citizens, streamline operations and achieve measurable benefits.” North Carolina Association of County Commissioners/Local Government Credit Union Excellence in Innovation Awards Educational Advocate program, Department of Social Services- Transitioning into foster care is not easy for a child. To try to make this transition as easy as possible and to minimize the number of school moves, Catawba County Social Services started an Educational Advocate Service with the goal of improving educational continuity and stability for children in foster care. The Educational Advocate is a full-time social worker who serves as a liaison with the county’s three public school systems and focuses on the educational achievement, stability and continuity of children from their entry into foster care through post-care. The Educational Advocate is part of the Child Wellbeing Project, a research partnership with The Duke Endowment, which provides an array of supportive services to improve the well-being of children who have been in the custody of Catawba County Social Services.
Thermal Energy Exchange, Capture and Utilization Project, Department of Utilities and Engineering- In 1999, Catawba County became the first landfill owner/operator in North Carolina to use landfill gas to generate electricity. The engines used to generate electricity produced a substantial amount of thermal energy or heat as a byproduct. Recognizing the potential of this thermal energy byproduct, county staff began to develop the concept for today’s Regional EcoComplex and Resource Recovery Facility (EcoComplex). The basic principle of the EcoComplex is that each component’s byproducts must be used as a fuel source, energy source or some other through-put for another EcoComplex entity. These synergetic Eco Complex relationships are a system of applied industrial ecology to waste management.
Located adjacent to the Biodiesel Facility are three one-megawatt landfill gas-to-energy generator sets. Each generator contains a cooling system, not unlike the cooling system found in a car or truck, designed to keep the engines from overheating. As the coolant circulates through the engine, it transfers heat from the engines, thereby keeping them from overheating. The heat being carried away is a thermal energy source. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for creation of an easily readable and understandable comprehensive annual financial report covering all funds and financial transactions during the fiscal year. This is the 31st consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. Only about 2% of local governments across the U.S. and Canada have won the award for 20 years in a row. Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award, Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for its Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2012. The award is presented to local government finance offices that create a report which gives highlights of the County’s fiscal year in a summary format. This is the fifth consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. 2012: National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards Backpack Program for Children: This Department of Social Services program was established to reach families affected by economic distress, and it serves as an ongoing, immediate source of food for students during weekends and extended breaks from school. The program also educates parents about resources in the community, including job fairs and other free family-oriented activities, by including printed information about these programs in the backpacks. The program was a true community effort. BB&T Bank employees contributed 400 hours of volunteer assistance, and BB&T provided $10,000 in funds. Churches and community members also provided financial and volunteer assistance. The Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry, a non-profit organization, provided 3,000 square feet of warehouse space for food storage and a place to pack the backpacks. The program initially served 360 students in seven elementary schools and now serves 980 students per week and is in 20 of the county’s 25 elementary schools. Green Vendor Exhibition- The exhibit, organized by the County's Purchasing Division and Recycling Education Office, was designed to shine a spotlight on existing and potential vendors that specialize in providing recycled and environmentally-friendly products and services. The County’s Buy Recycled Policy, implemented in 2007, requires the procurement division to educate employees on green products and services. Procurement staff began planning the event in May 2011, researched event locations, established vendor fee guidelines and developed a list of potential vendors with a focus on our local Catawba County vendors. The Catawba County Chamber of Commerce assisted in advertising the event to its membership. The exhibition was unique because it was strictly for governmental employees and because vendors only exhibited their green products, materials and services. A variety of products and services were on display, including office supplies, office furniture, printing/ promotional products, janitorial supplies, vehicles, maintenance/facilities, copiers and recycling services. Since a fee was not charged to vendors and sponsorship was voluntary, the event gave an opportunity to small, local businesses to reach a large audience with minimal expense. North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Outstanding County Program Awards Backpack Program for Children: This Department of Social Services program was established to reach families affected by economic distress, and it serves as an ongoing, immediate source of food for students during weekends and extended breaks from school. The program also educates parents about resources in the community, including job fairs and other free family-oriented activities, by including printed information about these programs in the backpacks. The program was a true community effort. BB&T Bank employees contributed 400 hours of volunteer assistance, and BB&T provided $10,000 in funds. Churches and community members also provided financial and volunteer assistance. The Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry, a non-profit organization, provided 3,000 square feet of warehouse space for food storage and a place to pack the backpacks. The program initially served 360 students in seven elementary schools and now serves 980 students per week and is in 20 of the county’s 25 elementary schools. Healthy Schools Recognition Program- A Public Health program, which was created by Eat Smart Move More Catawba County (ESMM), a volunteer coalition aimed at reducing and preventing childhood obesity. The annual program encourages schools to meet or maintain seven specific criteria to be recognized as a Healthy School. Among the criteria are having a school wellness council that meets monthly and consists of school personnel and parents, offering fresh or frozen fruit or vegetables during lunch at least three times a week, 30 minutes of physical activity a day in grades K-8 and having a healthy foods policy for concessions. Sixteen of the county’s 40 public schools participated in the program during 2010-11, and 10 were recognized as a Healthy School. QR Codes on Building Permits- QR codes are a type of barcode, or two-dimensional code, designed to be read by smart phones. They look like black boxes with black and white patterns inside the boxes. When a picture of the code is taken with a smart phone, the phone is connected to more information via the internet. Catawba County was recognized for implementation of a Building Permit QR Codes system, which provides building contractors and inspectors with up-to-the-minute job site and inspection information, at their fingertips, in the field. Government Innovation Grant Award (GIGA)- Catawba County won the top GIGA for 2011 from the UNC School of Government and North Carolina Local Government Information Systems Association, for its innovative use of Quick Response (QR) Codes on building permits issued in the county. QR codes are a type of barcode, or two-dimensional code, designed to be read by smart phones. They look like black boxes with black and white patterns inside the boxes. When a picture of the code is taken with a smart phone, the phone is connected to more information via the internet. Catawba County was recognized for implementation of a Building Permit QR Codes system, which provides building contractors and inspectors with up-to-the-minute job site and inspection information, at their fingertips, in the field. Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada Distinguished Budget Presentation Award- presented to the Catawba County Budget Office for development of an easily understood budget document which can be used by other governmental units or the average citizen. This is the 23rd consecutive year in which the Catawba County Budget Office has won the award, which is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for creation of an easily readable and understandable comprehensive annual financial report covering all funds and financial transactions during the fiscal year. This is the 30th consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. Only about 2% of local governments across the U.S. and Canada have won the award for 20 years in a row. Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award, Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for its Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2011. The award is presented to local government finance offices that create a report which gives highlights of the County’s fiscal year in a summary format. This is the fourth consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. 2011: Government Innovation Grant Award (GIGA)- Catawba County won a quarterly GIGA from the UNC School of Government and North Carolina Local Government Information Systems Association, for its innovative use of Quick Response (QR) Codes on building permits issued in the county. QR codes are a type of barcode, or two-dimensional code, designed to be read by smart phones. They look like black boxes with black and white patterns inside the boxes. When a picture of the code is taken with a smart phone, the phone is connected to more information via the internet. Catawba County was recognized for implementation of a Building Permit QR Codes system, which provides building contractors and inspectors with up-to-the-minute job site and inspection information, at their fingertips, in the field. National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards A Partnership in Prevention- presented to Catawba County Social Services. The Social Services Child Support Unit partnered with the Prevention Unit, which operates the Teen Up program. Teen Up is a poverty reduction and prevention program that focuses on drop out and pregnancy prevention and serves approximately 400 male and female students annually. Social workers provide students, in small group settings, with information and education on the impact of sex and the prevention of teen pregnancy. Students who begin the program as 7th or 8th graders are followed from middle school through high school. The program provides information to students regarding the financial implications of teen pregnancy, as well as the reality of government assistance and child support. A child support staff member attends a group session and begins by asking the students to talk about their ‘needs’ each month, meaning cell phone costs, clothes, entertainment and food, and how much they spend on those items. As the conversation continues, there is discussion about benefits available from the government and the child support program, as well as eligibility requirements. The attitude of the teens often implies that, if they get pregnant, they will be able to get all of these services. An important by-product of this discussion is that myths attached with ‘living off of government assistance’ are dispelled. Ideally, the visits take place after the students have participated in the “Baby, Think it Over” program, through which students experience a simulation of caring for a baby during a week or weekend period and are then brought into a discussion surrounding financial support for themselves as a single mother or father. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting-Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for creation of an easily readable and understandable comprehensive annual financial report covering all funds and financial transactions during the fiscal year. This is the 29th consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. Only about 2% of local governments across the U.S. and Canada have won the award for 20 years in a row. Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada Distinguished Budget Presentation Award- presented to the Catawba County Budget Office for development of an easily understood budget document which can be used by other governmental units or the average citizen. This is the 22nd consecutive year in which the Catawba County Budget Office has won the award, which is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. 2010: North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Local Government Federal Credit Union Employee Productivity Award Educational Improvement Initiative for Children In Foster Care program - presented to Catawba County Social Services. “The Educational Improvement Initiative aimed to improve educational continuity and stability for children in foster care in Catawba County,” said Dawn Wilson, who serves as Program Manager in this service area. “Specifically, the initiative included establishment of a communication protocol and identification of designees in 44 schools to minimize school moves or facilitate school record transfers; a coordinated database to capture school progress and special needs; inclusion of educational information in court reports; raised awareness of the educational needs of children in foster care among child welfare and educational staff; focus on special educational needs of children in foster care; and the establishment of an Educational Advocate position at Social Services to assure coordination of transportation, school enrollment, and information sharing.” Wilson said such a program was vital for a group of children whose circumstances as foster children can easily stifle their potential for success. “It is generally accepted that school success is a precursor for positive outcomes for youth, contributing to enhanced well-being, increased chances for personal fulfillment and economic self-sufficiency,” Wilson said. “Unfortunately, for too many children in foster care, the opportunity for school success is compromised by lack of stability and continuity in school placements, poor academic achievement, and lack of educational support. Research shows that children and youth in foster care have poorer educational outcomes compared to their peers living at home. These negative outcomes can be attributed to multiple school moves, which can lead to delayed enrollment, inconsistencies in learning pace or curricula, instruction loss and delayed identification of learning disabilities.” The work of the program and its staff reduced the school “move rate” for children entering foster care in Catawba County from 24% to 6% in 2009, compared to the national average of 66% of children experiencing school moves. In addition, while 50% of children in foster care were not on grade level in 2006, after tracking educational progress staff found that 79% of children surveyed in 2009 either maintained a passing grade or improved a letter grade in a subject area of need. National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards Community-Based Crisis Intervention Program- presented to Catawba County Social Services. “The Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) provides federal funds to low-income families in heating and cooling crises. Social Services was overwhelmed with the volume of applicants for these funds in late 2008 and early 2009,” said Jo Sloan, a Social Services Program Administrator. “In April 2009, Social Services' staff met with representatives from three local non-profit agencies to discuss the possibility of joining forces to serve families in a more holistic manner. As a result of these discussions, CIP funds were made available to these agencies. When families visit those agencies, their needs are assessed and assistance can be provided in a more seamless manner. The agency is able to help the family out of the crisis using their resources or those of the CIP program. In addition, families are able to apply for these services closer to home, as these three helping agencies are located in areas nearer to the population centers of the county.” The non-profits agencies involved include the Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry; the Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry; and the Salvation Army of Hickory. These agencies provide a diverse range of services to struggling individuals and families including clothing closets, food pantries, a medical clinic with pharmacy services, and financial assistance with shelter and utility costs. “At Social Services, the arrival of cold weather and federal CIP monies was sure to bring additional traffic to the agency,” Sloan said. “Because there has never been any dedicated staff for this time-limited program, staff and supervisors from various programs (Work First, Day Care, Adult Services, etc.) would be pulled to handle CIP applications. Invariably, these staff would be overwhelmed by the numbers, resulting in over-crowded lobbies and long waits to be seen. This was a situation that was totally unacceptable to staff and management. “Once it was recognized that all the agencies were working with basically the same struggling families and hoping to achieve the same outcome, it was agreed that we should join forces to provide a more customer-friendly and efficient system,” Sloan concluded. “Social Services could bring the money and expertise to the table. The helping agencies could provide manpower at multiple sites throughout the county. With this partnership, citizens are served in a more holistic manner and no longer subject to going from one agency to another seeking help.”
Wilson said such a program was vital for a group of children whose circumstances as foster children can easily stifle their potential for success. “It is generally accepted that school success is a precursor for positive outcomes for youth, contributing to enhanced well-being, increased chances for personal fulfillment and economic self-sufficiency,” Wilson said. “Unfortunately, for too many children in foster care, the opportunity for school success is compromised by lack of stability and continuity in school placements, poor academic achievement, and lack of educational support. Research shows that children and youth in foster care have poorer educational outcomes compared to their peers living at home. These negative outcomes can be attributed to multiple school moves, which can lead to delayed enrollment, inconsistencies in learning pace or curricula, instruction loss and delayed identification of learning disabilities.” The work of the program and its staff reduced the school “move rate” for children entering foster care in Catawba County from 24% to 6% in 2009, compared to the national average of 66% of children experiencing school moves. In addition, while 50% of children in foster care were not on grade level in 2006, after tracking educational progress staff found that 79% of children surveyed in 2009 either maintained a passing grade or improved a letter grade in a subject area of need. School Nurse Alternative Schedule Project - presented to Catawba County Public Health. In 2005, a partnership was formed between Catawba Valley Medical Center and Public Health to expand the School Nurse program. Public Health, with the support of the Board of Commissioners, was already supporting ten full time (12 month) school nurse positions. Aware of the impact of school nursing on the health and wellness of students, the hospital's CEO and the Board of Commissioners allocated funding to support five additional school nurse positions, bringing the total to fifteen. While this improved the school nurse to student ratio from 1 nurse per 3000 students to 1 nurse per 1600 students, more school nurses were needed to adequately address children’s health needs. Additional positions were funded by a three year grant in the amount of $666,933 from the Duke Endowment. This grant allowed Catawba County to expand the School Health Program to a total of twenty three school nurses, resulting in a nurse to student ratio of 1 nurse per 1000 students, much closer to the Centers for Disease Control's recommendation of 1 nurse per 750 students. When the grant funding ended in 2008, at about the time the severe economic downturn began, the program faced a major challenge. “As of Fiscal Year 2009-2010, the cost of the school nurse program was to increase significantly for the three school districts that the school nurse program serves,” said Jennifer McCracken, Health Services Manager with Catawba County Public Health. “In order to control costs as much as possible, a new staffing schedule needed to be developed that would decrease program expenses while maintaining the same high level of services to students. At that time, all school nurses worked a 12 month schedule, using summer months for program planning, case management activities and the staffing of various Public Health clinics. School nurses had also expressed an interest in being off in the summers while school was not in session.” Ultimately, a 90% work schedule was created that allowed improved program efficiency, provided the opportunity for school nurses to be off for 5.2 weeks every summer, more effectively used program funding, and more closely aligned the school nurse work schedule with that of the school schedule” McCracken concluded. “By transitioning to this modified work schedule, a cost savings of $117,129 was realized. The decision to transition to the 90% work schedule saved school nursing jobs in uncertain economic times. The integrity of the program remained intact, outcomes were not compromised, and schools were able to realize a cost savings, leading to healthier school children and a healthier community.” Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Domestic Victims Unit (DVU)- The DVU is a branch of the Special Victims Unit, a section of the Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division. The DVU investigates cases encompassing all forms of domestic violence, from misdemeanor assaults and communication of threats to more serious offenses such as felony assaults with weapons, assaults on or in front of children, sexual assaults and murder. The DVU works closely with Catawba County Social Services, the First Step Domestic Violence Center, and Rape Crisis Center of Catawba County to provide the highest quality of services to the victims of domestic violence. “Prior to 2008, the Sheriff's Office did not offer any directed services or otherwise differentiate between victims of domestic violence and other persons reporting they were victimized by a crime committed against them,” said Sheriff David Huffman. “Cases such as sexual assaults, rape and domestic violence were put into the same figurative stack as break-ins, frauds and similar cases. Sheriff’s investigators, with no specialized training related to the investigation of specialized domestic cases, worked them as best they could with varying results. In 2008, the Sheriff's Office created two new enforcement positions dedicated to the investigation of domestic violence, sexual assaults committed against adults, and the service of Domestic Violence Protective Orders.” The new staff positions were classified as an investigator position and a deputy position. Having these dedicated positions allowed the new criminal investigator and deputy sheriff to receive training in, and focus solely on, crimes of domestic violence. The deputy sheriff’s position focused primarily on the service of domestic violence protective orders. The success of this initiative, coupled with a marked increase in the number of cases of domestic violence, resulted in the creation of a second investigator position in 2009 that also focuses on these types of crimes. “The Domestic Violence Unit has been very successful,” Huffman added. “This unit has tackled the toughest kinds of cases law enforcement presents to us, and through specialized investigative techniques as well as hard work, has brought most of those cases to a positive outcome. The DVU has sought to raise the level of services offered to victims of crime in Catawba County, and in doing so, addressed a need that was largely not being met prior to the formation of the unit. The DVU has affected approximately 200 arrests of criminal offenders since its formation and has had an above average rate of conviction in court. The DVU has formed strong partnerships with other county agencies as well as victim service organizations. The DVU's success can be measured both in numbers as well as the large volume of satisfied citizens who have received their services.” North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Outstanding County Program Awards Community-Based Crisis Intervention Program- presented to Catawba County Social Services. “The Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) provides federal funds to low-income families in heating and cooling crises. Social Services was overwhelmed with the volume of applicants for these funds in late 2008 and early 2009,” said Jo Sloan, a Social Services Program Administrator. “In April 2009, Social Services' staff met with representatives from three local non-profit agencies to discuss the possibility of joining forces to serve families in a more holistic manner. As a result of these discussions, CIP funds were made available to these agencies. When families visit those agencies, their needs are assessed and assistance can be provided in a more seamless manner. The agency is able to help the family out of the crisis using their resources or those of the CIP program. In addition, families are able to apply for these services closer to home, as these three helping agencies are located in areas nearer to the population centers of the county.” The non-profits agencies involved include the Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry; the Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry; and the Salvation Army of Hickory. These agencies provide a diverse range of services to struggling individuals and families including clothing closets, food pantries, a medical clinic with pharmacy services, and financial assistance with shelter and utility costs. “At Social Services, the arrival of cold weather and federal CIP monies was sure to bring additional traffic to the agency,” Sloan said. “Because there has never been any dedicated staff for this time-limited program, staff and supervisors from various programs (Work First, Day Care, Adult Services, etc.) would be pulled to handle CIP applications. Invariably, these staff would be overwhelmed by the numbers, resulting in over-crowded lobbies and long waits to be seen. This was a situation that was totally unacceptable to staff and management.
“Once it was recognized that all the agencies were working with basically the same struggling families and hoping to achieve the same outcome, it was agreed that we should join forces to provide a more customer-friendly and efficient system,” Sloan concluded. “Social Services could bring the money and expertise to the table. The helping agencies could provide manpower at multiple sites throughout the county. With this partnership, citizens are served in a more holistic manner and no longer subject to going from one agency to another seeking help.” Educational Improvement Initiative for Children In Foster Care program - presented to Catawba County Social Services. “The Educational Improvement Initiative aimed to improve educational continuity and stability for children in foster care in Catawba County,” said Dawn Wilson, who serves as Program Manager in this service area. “Specifically, the initiative included establishment of a communication protocol and identification of designees in 44 schools to minimize school moves or facilitate school record transfers; a coordinated database to capture school progress and special needs; inclusion of educational information in court reports; raised awareness of the educational needs of children in foster care among child welfare and educational staff; focus on special educational needs of children in foster care; and the establishment of an Educational Advocate position at Social Services to assure coordination of transportation, school enrollment, and information sharing.” Wilson said such a program was vital for a group of children whose circumstances as foster children can easily stifle their potential for success. “It is generally accepted that school success is a precursor for positive outcomes for youth, contributing to enhanced well-being, increased chances for personal fulfillment and economic self-sufficiency,” Wilson said. “Unfortunately, for too many children in foster care, the opportunity for school success is compromised by lack of stability and continuity in school placements, poor academic achievement, and lack of educational support. Research shows that children and youth in foster care have poorer educational outcomes compared to their peers living at home. These negative outcomes can be attributed to multiple school moves, which can lead to delayed enrollment, inconsistencies in learning pace or curricula, instruction loss and delayed identification of learning disabilities.”
The work of the program and its staff reduced the school “move rate” for children entering foster care in Catawba County from 24% to 6% in 2009, compared to the national average of 66% of children experiencing school moves. In addition, while 50% of children in foster care were not on grade level in 2006, after tracking educational progress staff found that 79% of children surveyed in 2009 either maintained a passing grade or improved a letter grade in a subject area of need. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting-Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for creation of an easily readable and understandable comprehensive annual financial report covering all funds and financial transactions during the fiscal year. This is the 28th consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. Only about 2% of local governments across the U.S. and Canada have won the award for 20 years in a row. Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada Distinguished Budget Presentation Award- presented to the Catawba County Budget Office for development of an easily understood budget document which can be used by other governmental units or the average citizen. This is the 21st consecutive year in which the Catawba County Budget Office has won the award, which is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. 2009: National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards Reports, Outcomes and Services (ROCs) Team- presented to Catawba County Social Services. A Social Services team created a streamlined data compilation system to meet challenging new State requirements for the documenting of child protective services cases. Child Protective Services staff described itself as “flabbergasted” when they received new State documentation requirements in 2008. The new guidelines included a fifteen page booklet that required staff to manually fill in data blanks and narrative. Staff was given only two months to incorporate these requirements into its existing processes. It faced a real possibility of spending upwards of 40 additional minutes with each of the 2000+ cases assessed each year, just to meet this new mandate. The team created a master application document that could be connected to future development efforts. It mapped out the specifications and needs, designed a system, and created a master application that consolidated the State’s new documentation requirements and five other existing applications the agency had been using. The team considered all aspects of service provision, from program management and supervision to data analysis to data entry.
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting-Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for creation of an easily readable and understandable comprehensive annual financial report covering all funds and financial transactions during the fiscal year. This is the 27th consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. Only about 2% of local governments across the U.S. and Canada have won the award for 20 years in a row.
2008: National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards Catawba County EcoComplex- presented to the Catawba County Department of Utilities and Engineering. The EcoComplex is designed to promote economic development and create new jobs in the green energy, green business, agricultural and environmental sectors. It will accommodate research involving all aspects related to biologically-derived energy recovery and use, as well as the research of alternative fuels and minimization of greenhouse gases for environmental, agricultural and energy use. Expedited Paternity Testing program- presented to the Catawba County Department of Social Services. The program expedited the paternity testing process for families appearing before the court in Child Welfare matters. Juvenile Court judges who hear cases relating to child abuse neglect and dependency frequently require paternity testing to verify the paternity of children whose cases are before the court, and ensure the court is addressing the rights of biological parents. This previously required scheduling an appointment with an independent testing lab. Many parents are difficult to locate and even more difficult to motivate to appear at a lab for a paternity test. Often a parent appeared in court once as a result of being incarcerated, only to disappear again before the paternity test could be scheduled. The Expedited Paternity Testing program created a solution for this problem. The Legal Assistant for child welfare attorneys and all Child Support staff were trained to take the lab samples for paternity testing. When paternity testing is ordered, the Legal Assistant is in court and is able to take all parties aside and perform the necessary tests. If members of a family come into the Department of Social Services, there is a well trained crew of Child Support staff willing and able to assist with the testing.
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting-Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for creation of an easily readable and understandable comprehensive annual financial report covering all funds and financial transactions during the fiscal year. This is the 26th consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. Only about 2% of local governments across the U.S. and Canada have won the award for 20 years in a row.
2007: National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards Catawba Tax Link Program- This program provides free tax preparation services for low income families in Catawba County. With many Catawba County families facing major financial difficulties as a result of plant shutdowns and layoffs in the county, Catawba County Social Services staff wanted to make sure these citizens were not paying too much in income taxes or fees to file their taxes. Staff learned that many low-income citizens paid tax preparers hundreds of dollars each year to file their tax forms. Others didn’t know about the Earned Income Tax Credit or didn’t understand their potential eligibility for it, and still others paid significant fees just to get a rapid refund when they filed their taxes. After consulting with the Internal Revenue Service, a handful of Social Services staff established a VITA (Volunteers in Tax Assistance) site in 2005 to provide free tax assistance for low-income families. The team is now in its third year. This tax year, the 29 members of the team donated 774 hours of volunteer time to the effort, generating $407,564 in returns for local citizens. National Association of County Information Officers Award of Excellence Catawba County E-News- Catawba County E-News was honored in the External Publications category among all counties with a population of between 100,000 and 500,000 people. Catawba County E-News is e-mailed to subscribers twice each month, with occasional additional issues as the timing of events may warrant. The newsletter includes brief presentations of four or five "stories" on different issues, which contain links subscribers may click on to be taken directly to Catawba County's web site for more information on that story. Certain items are featured regularly, but the newsletter will continually focus on the latest news and services provided by Catawba County Government. 2007 Thomas H. Muehlenbeck Award for Excellence in Local Government Catawba County EcoComplex- presented to Catawba County from the Alliance for Innovation, this national award honored Catawba County’s ongoing efforts to create an EcoComplex at and near the Blackburn Landfill in Vale. The EcoComplex is designed to promote economic development and create new jobs in the green energy, green business, agricultural and environmental sectors. It will accommodate research involving all aspects related to biologically-derived energy recovery and use, as well as the research of alternative fuels and minimization of greenhouse gases for environmental, agricultural and energy use. National Association of Counties 2007 Acts of Caring Award Catawba Tax Link Program- This program provides free tax preparation services for low income families in Catawba County. With many Catawba County families facing major financial difficulties as a result of plant shutdowns and layoffs in the county, Catawba County Social Services staff wanted to make sure these citizens were not paying too much in income taxes or fees to file their taxes. Staff learned that many low-income citizens paid tax preparers hundreds of dollars each year to file their tax forms. Others didn’t know about the Earned Income Tax Credit or didn’t understand their potential eligibility for it, and still others paid significant fees just to get a rapid refund when they filed their taxes. After consulting with the Internal Revenue Service, a handful of Social Services staff established a VITA (Volunteers in Tax Assistance) site in 2005 to provide free tax assistance for low-income families. The team is now in its third year. This tax year, the 29 members of the team donated 774 hours of volunteer time to the effort, generating $407,564 in returns for local citizens.
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting-Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for creation of an easily readable and understandable comprehensive annual financial report covering all funds and financial transactions during the fiscal year. This is the 25th consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. Only about 2% of local governments across the U.S. and Canada have won the award for 20 years in a row.
2006: National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards
Family NET Design Team - Catawba County's Social Services Director, Bobby Boyd, and Mental Health Director, John Hardy, received a Ralph W. Ketner Productivity Award for their leadership in the development of the Family NET (Nurturing, Education and Training) Unit, which provides consolidated services for families and children. The NCACC presents only ten Ketner Awards across the state in any year, and they are awarded to programs judged to be the best examples in North Carolina of creativity, innovation and commitment to improving county services. The Medicare Part D Community Outreach Plan was created to assist Medicare recipients in understanding, and responding to, the major changes made to the Medicare and Medicaid program as a result of the implementation of the final part of the federal Medicare Modernization Act on January 1, 2006. The Medicare Prescription Drug Program represented the largest expansion of Medicare since its creation in 1965. It offered coverage of prescription medications for the first time to a large segment of the population who have little or no knowledge of computer and Internet usage. The program was complex and confusing, with no consultation or assistance designated to help Medicare beneficiaries negotiate the maze of options available or compare and select the drug plan that best met their needs. Social Services staff determined it could play a role in educating and assisting these citizens by holding meetings in various parts of the county to present information on how the new program worked. In the fall of 2005, the members of this team, other County staff and representatives of associated agencies made educational presentations to 1,208 Medicare recipients, and prescription plan comparisons were completed for hundreds of beneficiaries. Attendees were taken through several scenarios to discuss their options, based on the type of insurance coverage currently held by the beneficiary. A Drug Finder Tool was given to each person, offering them the opportunity to complete the proper form, and return it to Social Services for a complete comparison of drug plans. North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Oustanding County Program Award Catawba Tax Link Program- This program provides free tax preparation services for low income families in Catawba County. With many Catawba County families facing major financial difficulties as a result of plant shutdowns and layoffs in the county, Catawba County Social Services staff wanted to make sure these citizens were not paying too much in income taxes or fees to file their taxes. Staff learned that many low-income citizens paid tax preparers hundreds of dollars each year to file their tax forms. Others didn’t know about the Earned Income Tax Credit or didn’t understand their potential eligibility for it, and still others paid significant fees just to get a rapid refund when they filed their taxes. After consulting with the Internal Revenue Service, a handful of Social Services staff established a VITA (Volunteers in Tax Assistance) site in 2005 to provide free tax assistance for low-income families. The group decided to enlist business staff/students from Catawba Valley Community College and Lenoir Rhyne College’s Phi Beta Lambda to create a volunteer tax team.
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting-Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for creation of an easily readable and understandable comprehensive annual financial report covering all funds and financial transactions during the fiscal year. This is the 24th consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. Only about 2% of local governments across the U.S. and Canada have won the award for 20 years in a row.
2005:
North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) Ralph W. Ketner Productivity Award Family NET is an integration of mental health and social services for children, youth and families created by the Catawba County Department of Social Services and Mental Health Services of Catawba County, which began operations on July 1, 2004. The integrated network was created in response to the State of North Carolina's Mental Health Reform initiative. This legislation required area mental health programs to be separated from the actual delivery of services, to establish an alternative service delivery system and to begin providing the community with referral to services and oversight of those services, by July 2004. Mental Health Services staff, under the leadership of John Hardy, worked for months to create the local structures that now serve Catawba County citizens and met the State's mental health redesign standards. Family NET became a part of the Department of Social Services' Family & Children’s Services Unit. Dr. Gordon Cappelletty is serving as its clinical director. National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards
2004
Election Team - A team of County employees that did extensive research
on the various kinds of voting tabulators being manufactured, as it became
apparent the County would need to move to a new generation of tabulators.
Team members recommended that the Board of Elections and Board of Commissioners
select the eSlate tabulators made by Hart Intercivic of Austin, Texas,
after two models were tested by volunteer voters during the 2003 elections.
Other members of the team then formed a speaker’s bureau which demonstrated
the new tabulators at some outdoor festivals and to church and civic groups.
The speaker’s bureau spoke to more than 1000 people between April
and October 2004.
2004:
"Catawba
County had several other goals for this clinic, not the least of which
was to provide worker's compensation services to reduce lost work time
as a result of injuries and accidents," said Debbie Bradley, Catawba County
Personnel Director, whose department led the way in creating the clinic.
"Through in-house management and better coordination between employees,
a nurse practitioner and the employee’s supervisor, we have provided
a better level of communication and quicker return-to-work solutions.
The results we have seen from the clinic, in just the first eight months
of operation, have shown that the clinic is helping keep our employees
on the job and getting those who need time off because of illness or injury
back to work faster." Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting-Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for creation of an easily readable and understandable comprehensive annual financial report covering all funds and financial transactions during the fiscal year. This is the 21st consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. Only about 2% of local governments across the U.S. and Canada have won the award for 20 years in a row. Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada Distinguished Budget Presentation Award- presented to the Catawba County Budget Office for development of an easily understood budget document which can be used by other governmental units or the average citizen. This is the 14th consecutive year in which the Catawba County Budget Office has won the award, which is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. 2002: National Association of Counties Achievement Awards (NACo) The Homebuyer's Club- Department of Social Services The Catawba County Homebuyer's Club was part of a program designed to assist families in securing safe, decent and affordable housing as they moved from the old welfare system to Work First and, finally, to lasting self-sufficiency. It began when the Department of Social Services and the Western Piedmont Council of Governments secured a grant for the program from the State of North Carolina in 1999. "The Homebuyer's Club focuses on empowering families to establish better financial practices, improve credit and purchase a home," said Karen Heffner, Program Manager for the Work First Program. "The program assists families with rental assistance while they save money for a down payment. Families are required to attend Economic Literacy classes and must set up an Individual Development Account, or IDA. The IDA helps them establish a pattern of saving money that will continue beyond the program. Staff from the Western Piedmont Council of Governments work one-on-one with families to improve their credit. Upon graduation from the program, each family will have improved credit and will have saved at least $1000. Their savings is then matched with $7500 from the State grant to be used toward purchase of a home. The grant was extended for fiscal year 2001-2002. The Western Piedmont Council of Governments has contributed about $60,000, through its Downpayment Assistance Program, and the Department of Social Services has contributed $20,000 during each year of the grant." The issue of affordable housing is a growing concern locally and around the nation. Historically, employment in Catawba County has centered around the furniture and textile industries. As these and other local industries have faced the present recession, job losses, and the county's relatively high housing costs (rent for a two bedroom apartment averages $450 per month), it has become more difficult for persons living near or below the poverty rate to be able to purchase a home. On June 13, 2001, as a result of this program, 16 families graduated from the first Homebuyer's Club Economic Literacy Class. As of January 2002, 12 of the 16 families had been able to purchase their own homes. A second class, with 13 families, began in August 2001 and concluded June 30, 2002 with 10 families purchasing their own home. Sheriff's Multi-Agency Traffic Interdiction Unit This is a collaborative program of the Sheriff's Offices in Catawba, Burke, Davie, Iredell, McDowell and Rowan counties. Faced with growing populations, increased traffic volume and alarming human and financial losses associated with traffic crashes on their highways, six sheriffs in western North Carolina joined forces to form a traffic enforcement unit. The National Highway Transportation Administration has given the North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program an "Innovative Program Award" for its funding of this unit and the National Sheriff's Association also recently honored the unit with its J. Stannard Baker Traffic Safety Award. "The sheriffs in these six counties started by applying for a grant from the North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program to fund initial equipment and personnel costs," said Catawba County Sheriff L. David Huffman. "Each sheriff devoted two officers, either full or part time, to traffic enforcement within their respective jurisdictions. Each department also entered into mutual aid agreements with the other departments, so that each of the twelve officers could work on traffic incidents in any of the partner counties." These six counties had an average ranking of 50th out of the state's 100 counties for fatal traffic accidents, with an average of 1.85 fatalities occurring for every 100 miles traveled. All of the counties except Davie have cities or municipalities that ranked in the top 25 in the state in crash rates. The crashes cost the residents of the six counties more than $821 million collectively each year, and speeding was the leading violation in all fatal crashes. During the first year of the program, the participating counties experienced a 22% decrease in traffic fatalities. Rowan County had a 62% decrease in the first year of the program. For the first time in several years, the percentage increase in crashes did not equal the percentage increase in vehicles registered in these counties. Criminal arrests have increased in these six counties. The reduction in fatalities and increase in criminal arrests made by the officers in this unit prove what the sheriffs believed when they initiated this program. With every small increase in visibility and enforcement, the likelihood of serious or fatal crashes decreases. People Active in the Community- Mental Health Services Clients served by the developmental disabilities program expressed an interest in a social program where they could meet with their peers and have fun. A committee was created to explore particular activities in which clients had expressed an interest, and decide how to include the most people in fun, safe activities. The group was named People Active in the Community and has already had several Halloween dances and Christmas parties, as well as a luau party. "For a number of years, several of the adult clients we serve asked their case managers to help them find a boyfriend or girlfriend," said Cate Carroll, Mental Health Program Supervisor II with Mental Health Services. "While this is not really a case management role, after researching the real need, we found that what people actually were looking for was a way to get together with their friends and talk or have fun, with the possibility of developing some strong relationships. A staff committee was formed to determine which clients could best be served by this idea and the possible activities and resources we could provide. We determined that adults with developmental disabilities would be our first focus group because children involved in our programs have various social activities through the public schools. Many who have graduated from high school work in sheltered workshops or community jobs, and are expected to be working, not involved with social activities. We felt this group could get the most from the PAC program." Case managers were asked to compile lists of their adult clients who would be interested in a social event in the evenings or on weekends. 75 names were eventually placed on that list. The committee decided to provide at least three events each year on a very limited budget without passing on any of the costs to the clients. The entire cost of the program during its first year, including facilities, entertainment, food and transportation, was $1575. The PAC Committee has found the events to be a success. It has planned events that are fun and safe for the clients served. Parents have been pleased with the activities we have hosted, in that they trust the staff of the Area Mental Health Program. PAC has met a great need for the adult clients with developmental disabilities that we serve. Students Trying Out Peace or S.T.O.P program- Department of Social Services
Staff at
the Department of Social Services noted a trend of violence in local public
schools and sought to reverse the trend through violence prevention.
The S.T.O.P Program was developed for children in pre-school through 6th
grades, and implemented by social workers and psychologists serving 15
elementary schools in Catawba County.
The team created the S.T.O.P Program in 1999, with specific lessons designed to promote pro-social behaviors and reduce the level of aggressive behavior among participants. The curriculum was reviewed by County attorneys and other staff, then launched as a pilot project in 15 elementary schools in October 1999. High-risk students were referred to the program by teachers, principals and school counselors. The program was successful and adapted for children ages 4 and 5 in June 2001 and further expanded in 2001 to the after-school and summer school programs in the county. During the 2001-2002 school year, 100% of the children participating in the anger management and conflict-resolution portions of the S.T.O.P Program achieved desirable scores on a Children's Action Tendency Scale, an anger management test developed by Dr. Robert Deluty of the University of Maryland. 96% of the high-risk children attending the program received five or fewer disciplinary referrals during the school year. Children participating in impulse control and social skills portions of the program demonstrated a 35% increase in knowledge gained.
North
Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) Outstanding County
Program Award
Medical
First Response Incentive Program
In 2000-2001,
the Catawba County Board of Commissioners established an aggressive goal
of a four-minute response time for all emergency calls requiring medical
first responders. Expansion of ambulance services by the County
in recent years had accomplished a goal of eight-minute responses for full-time
county paramedics and ambulance transport, but volunteer first responders
were often arriving after the ambulance crew.
Twelve
Most Wanted Non-Supporting Parent Poster Program
Child Support
agents face the reality that some parents do everything possible to attempt
to evade making child support payments. In Catawba County, agents are responsible
for over 500 cases. Collection rates reveal that 65% of persons making child
support are actively cooperating with agents. The remaining 35% include
parents who have refused to respond to agents, and have evaded all attempts
to be brought back before the court and into compliance with the existing
child support court order.
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting-Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for creation of an easily readable and understandable comprehensive annual financial report covering all funds and financial transactions during the fiscal year. This is the 20th consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. Only about 2% of local governments across the U.S. and Canada have won the award for 20 years in a row. Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada Distinguished Budget Presentation Award- presented to the Catawba County Budget Office for development of an easily understood budget document which can be used by other governmental units or the average citizen. This is the thirteeth consecutive year in which the Catawba County Budget Office has won the award, which is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. 2001: National Association of Counties Achievement Awards (NACo) Home Courts Apartment Program- Mental Health Services. The Home Courts Apartments were built to provide supported living for individuals who are dealing with severe and persistent mental illness. The apartments include five two-bedroom units located on several acres in an older residential neighborhood in Newton. "The men and women living at the apartment receive daily support from one of two Case Managers employed by Mental Health Services," said David Willis, Residential Program Manager for Mental Health Services. "Assistance routinely includes monitoring for health and safety, assistance with medical and medication management, menu preparation and grocery shopping, laundry, house keeping, and helping residents stay involved in community activities through planned outings. Staff members are on-site daily. Residents are involved in a range of vocational activities that include a psycho-social club house, sheltered workshop and private employment." The apartments were planned, designed and built by a private group of community members and leased to the Mental Health Area Program for a renewable five year term, through a cooperative effort involving Mental Health Services and a local developer. The Home Courts Apartments were built to replace older units. The Residential Services division of Mental Health Services originally leased an apartment complex with ten two-bedroom units. Over time, the facilities aged and deteriorated because sufficient funding was not available for maintenance. A grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was awarded to Mental Health Services, allowing for the construction of a building with ten single bedroom units. This unit has been very helpful, but did not provide for better housing for eight residents who were living in the older building. The Home Court Apartments provided residential space for those eight persons. "Defensive Driving For Teens" program- Catawba County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office created a program which uses volunteers as defensive driving instructors to teach a two-day course at Catawba Valley Community College. Teenage drivers are typically taught how to drive by a combination of parents and driving instructors in the local school systems. The Sheriff's Office learned that students are not always taught defensive driving skills, including collision avoidance. "The class size was limited to provide a student-to-instructor ratio of no more than four to one, since a major portion of the course included driving skills demonstrated on a driving course," said Joe Momier, who just retired as Executive Officer of the Sheriff's Office, in his letter of nomination for the program. "The first day of classes included classroom instruction in defensive driving. Students received a number of highway safety brochures and pamphlets from several local automobile insurance companies, and a driver's safety notebook. During the second day, students actually drove their vehicles on a special course set up by instructors to teach such skills as emergency braking, driving too fast for existing conditions, curve and ramp driving, proper backing while using mirrors, visual scanning techniques and car control skills in general. Parents were encouraged to remain with students throughout the training." Funding for the program was provided, in part, through a grant from the North Carolina Governor's Highway Safety Program to offset the cost of publishing materials and reimburse the instructors for their time. The courses were taught during weekends and times when students were not in school. No tuition was charged for the training. The County's Risk Manager, Betty Coulter, who teaches a driver safety course for County employees, provided startup assistance and helped obtain some written materials for the course. The County's EMS Manager, David Weldon, and Facility and Fleet Maintenance Manager, Tim Watson, were two of the instructors for the program. "Work And Ride" program-Department of Social Services. The program works with several community groups to connect donated, road worthy vehicles with low income families who need reliable transportation to seek or maintain employment. "Welfare Reform began in North Carolina in 1995," said Work First Program Manager Karen Heffner. "It quickly became apparent that one of the most significant barriers to employment for low-income families in Catawba County was the lack of transportation. To address this need, a unique collaborative effort between local government, non-profit agencies, and the Faith Community combined energies to create the Work and Ride program." Cooperative Christian Ministries, Social Services and the members of the local Faith Community helped develop the program. The Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministries receives and stores the donated vehicles until they are awarded to a selected family. A mechanic from one of the participating churches volunteers time to check out each vehicle and insure that it is mechanically sound. A selection committee conducts a screening process on all applicants. The applicants must show financial needs, establish that transportation is a significant barrier toward their maintaining employment, have a valid North Carolina driver's license, a good driving record, and must commit to attending a budgeting and basic car repair class. Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada Distinguished Budget Presentation Award- presented to the Catawba County Budget Office for development of an easily understood budget document which can be used by other governmental units or the average citizen. This is the twelfth consecutive year in which the Catawba County Budget Office has won the award, which is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting-Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for creation of an easily readable and understandable comprehensive annual financial report covering all funds and financial transactions during the fiscal year. This is the nineteenth consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. 2000: National Association of Counties Achievement Awards (NACo) EBT Project for the Homebound, Social Services- NOTE: NACo also named this entry as the "Best In Category" winner among all entries in its Human Services category from across the nation.In 1996, Congress mandated that all states begin using Electronic Benefit Transfer by October 2002 to provide Food Stamp benefits to eligible families. The expensive paper coupon system was replaced with a system using a debit-style card, which would provide a higher level of security for the client's benefits and eliminate many fraudulent activities associated with paper coupons. "Many families, particularly the elderly, were not comfortable with the idea of an electronic card system," said Jo Sloan, Program Manager for the project. "Experts predicted that elderly recipients would not accept this change and that up to 20% would drop out of the program, leaving this vulnerable population at nutritional risk. To assure that elderly and disabled citizens continued to benefit from the program, Social Services created the EBT Project for the Homebound. The project enlisted the help of volunteers and matched them with senior citizens who would be using EBT cards. Our staff members introduced the volunteers to ‘their' senior citizen to assure that each was comfortable with the arrangement." The first visit provided an opportunity for review of the process and responsibilities. Volunteers were then trained in the use of the EBT card and selected the PIN number for ‘their' elderly/disabled client. They then helped the senior citizen or disabled person they were matched with make purchases with EBT cards in a safe and secure manner. In Catawba County, 634 elderly and disabled participants received benefits in July 1998 (just prior to the implementation of EBT.) Today, more than 660 elderly and disabled recipients receive benefits. Partnering for Citizen Protection, Emergency Service and Social Services-Preparation for potential Y2K problems led to a recognition that there was no current database that could help emergency responders with rapid identification and location of citizens who would have special medical needs in the event of power outage or disaster. Emergency Management and Social Services knew that estimating the type and number of shelters that might be needed, and preparing for the level of care that might be required could be done more efficiently if more was known about the existing needs of senior and disabled citizens in our community. To address this problem, a massive effort was undertaken to educate senior and disabled adults who attend congregate meal sites; receive home delivered meals; case management from the Community Alternative Program; homemaker and in-home aide services; and guardianship and payee ship services. Emergency Services Director Charles Moody met with Adult Care Home personnel to help them understand and prepare for emergency situations. Red Cross and Cooperative Extension speakers were invited to address congregate meal participants about common sense preparations for Y2K and winter storm emergencies. A brochure was distributed entitled "Emergency Assistance For People With Special Needs", which includes a form for persons to use to submit information to Emergency Services personnel about their special needs. Emergency information for medically fragile clients, those who receive in home aide services and nursing home level services at home through Social Services programs, was collected and shared with Emergency Services for the first time. Computerizing CARE- Catawba County Social Services (jointly with Alexander, Burke and Caldwell County Social Services.)The four Departments of Social Services drew on a tradition of cooperation to develop a new software program called CARE in partnership with a consulting firm, Millennium Solutions, Inc. The program is based on a Resident Assessment Instrument for Home Care (RAI-HC), a comprehensive, assessment tool used with adults seeking assistance from Social Services agencies. The Computerized CARE program sprang from the 1996-98 Unifour Adult Care Home Case Management project, which combined the resources of all four counties to more efficiently serve the most fragile clients in adult care homes, helping them to have more comfortable, stable lives while saving tax dollars that might otherwise have been spent on more expensive nursing home care. A standardization of effort and improved data collection was necessary for agencies to work well together across county lines, so planners studied the available assessment software which could be used by all participants. A decision was made to purchase software still in development by SAVANT, Inc., which was working on an assessment based on the RAI-HC. Use of the automated CARE assessment tool has been very successful. It has standardized the way adult care home residents are evaluated in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties. The same baseline data is collected for each client and appropriate plans are triggered by that data. All Case Managers have an easily accessible selection of methods to address these plans. They are not restricted to a ‘cookbook' of interventions. A Case Manager is free to use professional judgment to add new interventions that best suit the needs of the client. A database of over 200 clients has been compiled, offering more convenient access to information about the four county caseload as a whole. Conover Express Branch Library (Cooperative effort between the County's Library and Technology Departments and the City of Conover)-A project to create a new library for the citizens of the City of Conover was initiated in the fall of 1998 because Conover residents had to drive to neighboring communities to access library services. The City of Conover and Catawba County governments created a partnership to provide library service for Conover, using available space in the remodeled Conover City Hall. The City of Conover agreed to make provisions for the space, staffing, maintenance, telephone and utilities, while Catawba County agreed to provide materials, computers, furnishings and management for the new library. Conover and the County signed a contract to create the library in January 1999 and, in only fourteen weeks, the new branch was open for business. Library staff and employees from the County's Technology Department (which works with computer systems), worked quickly to get the library equipped and ready for opening. Grant funds administered by the State Library and the use of materials already owned by the Library helped reduce the costs of the project. The new 800 square foot library houses a collection of print materials, and a computer lab with twelve computers available for the public to use individually or for classes. "Methane to Energy" project- Department of Utilities and Engineering.The closure of landfills is often accompanied by environmental and safety hazards. One of the most common problems associated with closed sites is methane gas. Decomposing garbage naturally produces methane: a colorless, odorless, invisible and explosive gas. Several potential problems make the control of methane gas a high priority. Methane can travel long distances in the soil adjacent to a landfill, especially after closure, when a landfill cap can act as a barrier to the upward movement of gas. If the gas travels off the landfill property, it can pose a problem to adjacent landowners, possibly seeping up through the ground and entering homes or business. Another risk associated with concentrations of methane gas is its explosive characteristic. Injury from methane explosions is a real concern if people come in contact with closed sites. Yet another concern for Catawba County staff was compliance with environmental regulations. Closed landfills must have a gas control and venting system, along with a gas-monitoring plan to ensure gas does not travel to adjacent property or damage the earth's ozone layer. In seeking to address these concerns, Catawba County entered into a contract with Enerdyne Power Systems/Catawba Gas/Newton Gas to extract the methane gas from the closed Newton landfill and closed portions of the Blackburn Landfill," Edwards said. "The County avoided spending $2.5 million dollars in gas extraction infrastructure. It then used these savings to purchase methane gas powered engines from Jennbacher Inc. that are coupled with generators to produce electricity. The generated electrical power is being sold to Duke Energy and fed into the public power network. Over a fifteen-year period, the County expects to purchase three additional engines and generate revenue of approximately $7.1 million dollars. Between both sites, enough electricity will be generated to power approximately 4,300 homes. Most important, the revenue produced from this project will enable the County to maintain the current solid waste tipping fee for the next ten years. National Association of County Information Officers Award of Excellence-A video detailing Catawba County Government services won a 2000 Award of Excellence from the National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO). The nineteen minute video gives viewers a brief overview of the County's history, followed by a look at services provided by each County department. County employees appear throughout, with some playing the roles of clients in situations where the identity of real clients should be protected. The video airs daily on Charter Communications' Government Access Channel (Channel 3). Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada Distinguished Budget Presentation Award- presented to the Catawba County Budget Office for development of an easily understood budget document which can be used by other governmental units or the average citizen. This is the eleventh consecutive year in which the Catawba County Budget Office has won the award, which is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting-Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for creation of an easily readable and understandable comprehensive annual financial report covering all funds and financial transactions during the fiscal year. This is the eighteenth consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. 1999: North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Outstanding County Program Awards "Methane to Energy" project- A project to take potentially hazardous methane gas, produced naturally in landfills, and convert it to energy which can be sold, guided by the Department of Utilities and Engineering. The closure of landfills is often accompanied by environmental and safety hazards. One of the most common problems associated with closed sites is methane gas. Decompsing garbage naturally produces methane: a colorless, odorless, invisible, and explosive gas. In seeking to address concerns about the potential dangers of methane, Catawba County entered into a contract with Enerdyne Power Systems/Catawba Gas/Newton Gas to extract methane gas from the now closed Newton Landfill and a portion of the existing Blackburn Landfill. The County has avoided spending $2.5 million dollars in gas extraction infrastructure. It then used these savings to purchase methane gas powered engines from Jennbacher Inc. that are coupled with generators to produce electricity. The generated electrical power is being sold to Duke Energy and fed into the public power network. Over a fifteen-year period, the County expects to purchase three additional engines and generate revenue of approximately $7.1 million dollars, which will enable the County to maintain the current solid waste tipping fee for the next ten years. National Association of Counties Achievement Awards N.C. Live Statewide Electronic Library Project-N.C. LIVE offers Internet users access to a virtual research library. The project was funded by the State of North Carolina in 1998, but its implementation depended upon the participation of individual library systems. In Catawba County, three departments teamed up to provide customers of the County Library system with 21 computers linked to NC LIVE in only ten working days. This was accomplished at no cost to taxpayers. The County's Technology Staff worked to locate, reconfigure and relocate computers for NC LIVE. Since no new computers had been budgeted for this project, the Library system used computers that had been declared surplus by other County departments. At the same time, the County's Maintenance staff worked quickly to provide electrical power to work stations for the computers. Eventually, the Library, Technology and Maintenance Departments brought the entire effort to a successful conclusion, with the system put into full operation on April 20. Conflict Resolution Center-The Sheriff's Department helped the center open in 1998 to help resolve disputes between neighbors, relatives and others, and settle more serious disputes which might end up in civil or criminal courts. The center coordinates voluntary mediation between disputing parties, facilitated by a trained mediator who volunteers his or her time to this program. The Conflict Resolution Center was organized with the assistance of Repay, Inc., a private organization which provides court and community related services such as pre-trial services, community penalties and community corrections. Referrals are made to the Conflict Resolution Center by law enforcement officers, magistrates, district attorneys, private attorneys and others. The disputing parties then meet with a trained, volunteer mediator who assists them in resolving their differences in a manner which both parties feel is fair. Once the disputing parties reach an agreement, they voluntarily sign a contract. Catawba County Department of Social Services' "Quick Care" program-designed to help recipients of public assistance get day care services for their children very quickly when the opportunity to start a job depends on having day care. With the advent of Welfare Reform and new time limits for people receiving public assistance, it has become critical that Human Services agencies be able to rapidly respond to the changing needs of the public assistance recipient. A recipient who finds a job and is told to ‘start work tomorrow' needs to find that the agency responsible for helping her access child care responds immediately to her urgent need. When access to day care assistance is delayed, the opportunity to start the new job is often lost. Quick Care is a unique program made available to families applying for or receiving welfare assistance. Families with an immediate need for child care are given same day service. No appointment is necessary. Child care arrangements for all children are made "on the spot" to ensure parents can get and keep a job. Work First worked to convince the State of North Carolina to allow a change in the income verification procedures required for child care. These verifications used to take up to 30 days and might have cost many people a chance to get a new job. Recipients are now given a child care voucher based on their declaration of income and given ten days to provide verification of their income. If they fail to provide verification or their income exceeds allowable limits, all child care assistance is terminated. Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada Distinguished Budget Presentation Award - presented to the Catawba County Budget Office for development of an easily understood budget document which can be used by other governmental units or the average citizen. This is the tenth consecutive year in which the Catawba County Budget Office has won the award, which is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting -Government Finance Officers Association- presented to the Catawba County Finance Office for creation of an easily readable and understandable comprehensive annual financial report covering all funds and financial transactions during the fiscal year. This is the seventeenth consecutive year in which the Catawba County Finance Office has won the award. |
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