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Stanly County
Health and Human Services Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, November 6, 2025 – 6:00 PM
I. Call to Order/ Invocation / Pledge of Allegiance
The Stanly County Consolidated Human Services Board (the “Board”) met in regular
session on Thursday, November 6, 2025 in the Health and Human Services Auditorium,
Stanly Commons. Chair Koohestani called the meeting to order, provided the invocation
and led the the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present:
Board Member Brandon King
Board Member Jeremy Almond
Board Member Ric Cain
Board Member Beth Thomas
Board Member Kenny Kendall
Board Member Neal Speight
Board Member James Link
Board Member Kristi Small
Board Member Victoria Ramos
Board Member Wendell Drye
Board Member Seena Koohestani
II. Adoption of Agenda
Chair Koohestani presented an amendment to the Agenda to add a Closed Session for
discussion of confidential records, just prior to Scheduled Agenda items; and under
Scheduled Agenda Items, E. Board application discussion.
III. Closed Session: In accordance per NCGS 143-318.11(a)(1)-due to confidential
information-per GS 108A-80 Confidentiality of Records as it relates to social
services and NCGS143-318.11(a)(3)-to consult with an attorney.

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IV. Scheduled Agenda Items
Foster Care Licensing presentation
A. Nomination of Chairperson
Presenter: Dolly Clayton, Human Services Director
Dolly Clayton opened the floor for nominations for Chairperson of the Board. A
nomination was made by Victoria Ramos for Seena Koohestani for Chairperson. With
no other names presented for nomination, Seena Koohestani was elected Chairperson
by unanimous vote. Mrs. Clayton congratulated Mr. Koohestani and turned the
proceedings over to him.
B. Nomination of Vice Chairperson
Presenter: Dolly Clayton, Human Services Director
Chair Koohestani opened the floor for nominations for Vice Chairperson of the Board. A
nomination was made by Dr. Neal Speight for Sean Morgan for Vice Chairperson. With
no other names presented, Sean Morgan was elected Vice Chairperson by unanimous
vote.
C. Foster Care Licensing presentation
Presenter: Kathy LeFloch
Kathy LeFloch, Foster Care supervisor with DSS, gave a brief overview of the Foster
Care program at DSS. She began by explaining how children come into care citing
abuse, neglect or dependency stemming from many different situations. It is the
department's responsibility to protect and provide a safe haven for these children in
hopes of healing. She then reviewed the basic requirements for becoming a foster care
provider, which include a minimum age of 21, being financially stable and working with
the birth family. Once those requirements are met, you must contact a foster care social
worker who will take your information, run preliminary checks and the process can start
for licensing. On average, the process can take six months to become licensed. Mrs.
LeFloch states there are currently 25 licensed foster homes in the county with the next
class starting the week of February 23rd. She also explained the foster care social
workers are on call 24 hours a day to help foster children, who have typically suffered
some type of trauma, which means going to assist families any hour of the day or night.
She shared with the Board that anyone who is interested can visit the foster care and
adoption page on the DSS website. Mrs. LeFloch was thanked for her presentation.
D. 2026 Consolidated Health & Human Services Board Meeting Schedule
Presenter: Dolly Clayton, Human Services Director
The 2026 regular monthly Board meeting schedule was included in the Board packet for
review. Chair Koohestani reviewed the schedule with Board members, asking if there

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were any questions, suggestions or comments with the 2026 schedule. After a brief
discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner King, seconded by Kenny Kendall, to
approve the 2026 Board meeting calendar as presented. The motion passed by
unanimous vote.
E. Board Member Discussion
Presenter: Dolly Clayton, Human Services Director
Mr. Ric Cain, Board pharmacist member, term expires 11-06-25. He has served two
four (4) year terms and is ineligible to serve another term. We received and shared with
Board members the application from Sean Pickler, who is eligible to fill the pharmacist
member seat. Mr. Pickler was also at the Board meeting and was introduced to the
Board and shared his willingness to serve. After discussion, Kristi Small made a motion
to recommend Sean Pickler for the pharmacist Board member seat, seconded by
Jeremy Almond. The motion passed by unanimous vote.
Also, Dr. Norwood, dentist member, and Dr. Jenny Hinson, physician member, terms
expire this month and at this time, we do not have any applicants qualified to fill those
professional seats. Dr. Marshall, optometrist member, term expires this month but has
agreed to continue to serve as there are no applicants with the qualifications to serve
that professional seat as well.
V. Consolidated Human Services Updates
A. D.S.S. Updates
1. DSS Board Report
Mrs. Clayton reviewed the DSS report included in the Board packet, sharing that
revenue is at 10% with expenditures at 25% through September 2025. She reviewed
the Medicaid and FNS numbers as well. In recognizing hard work by staff, she shared
that the adult Medicaid unit continues to make progress with their backlog, and they did
have two adoptions finalized. They continue having challenges with filling positions, and
they continue to learn the new child welfare software system that rolled out last month.
Mrs. Clayton introduced Marie Webb, who is the new Child Welfare/Adult Services
Program Manager. She replaces Donza McLean, who retired the previous month, and
as Program Manager, one task is signatory for the trust accounts that hold funds for
individuals under guardianship or payee status. Since Mrs. Mclean is no longer in that
role, we will need to remove her name as signer and reassign that role to Marie Webb
as signatory.
Mrs. Clayton states the recruitment period for the Deputy Director has closed, and she
is currently reviewing the applications for the interview process. She discussed the
press release regarding the delay of dispersement of SNAP funds for November.
However, the latest news for November is that disbursement will be reduced by 35% of

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the maximum. DSS and Health have posted in their lobby the various food distrubution
opportunities that are happening in the community and shared that information with
other community agencies, to provide food support in our community. She also informed
the Board that the FNS program has to meet a performance measure of 95% timeliness
for FNS benefits, meaning applications have to be processed in a certain timeframe.
They didn't meet that timeframe in June, July or August, so the program is under a
performance improvement plan. They have made changes, such as a new supervisor,
procedure changes, and they anticipate improvement and have already seen
improvement over the last couple of weeks.
B. Health Department Updates
1. Activity Reports - Sept. 2025, FY2024-25 totals
They continue to implement changes in the clinic to address overall clinic performance.
She shared last month that they have begun a marketing plan, which they began with
sharing information during a Halloween event and the health education team has
engaged in several events for marketing. They are also working with AHEC to conduct a
clinic flow assessment to help engage in continuous quality improvement in scheduling
and clinic flow.
2. Budget Performance Report
Mrs. Clayton states Health is at 20% for revenue and 24% for expenditures through
September 2025. She wanted to update the Board regarding the government shutdown
that WIC is currently funded through November 30th and they are still seeing patients.
Also, as a reminder the Low Income Energy assistance program (LIEAP) normally rolls
out in December for the disabled or aged clients and open to everyone in January who
qualifies. Right now, there is no additional allocation received yet for these funds,
however they are moving forward with the one time auto payment for those individuals
who were eligible last year until the state receives the 2026 block grant award for
LIEAP.
VI. Adoption of Consent Agenda
Vice Chairman King moved to Approve, seconded by Board Member Ramos and
Passed by a 11 - 0 vote.
Result: Passed
Mover: Commissioner King
Seconder: Board Member Ramos
Ayes: Brandon King, Jeremy Almond, Ric Cain, Beth Thomas, Kenny
Kendall, Neal Speight, James Link, Kristi Small, Victoria Ramos,
Wendell Drye, Seena Koohestani
A. Minutes

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1. Meeting Minutes from October 2, 2025
VII. Public Comment
No public comments.
VIII. Adjourn
Chair Koohestani declared the meeting adjourned.
______________________________ ______________________________
Seena Koohestani, Chair Teri Bowers, Administrative Assistant