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Stanly County
Health and Human Services Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, January 8, 2026 – 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, January 8, 2026 in the Health & Human Services auditorium,
Stanly Commons. Chair Koohestani called the meeting to order, provided the invocation
and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Present:
County Commissioner Patty Crump
Board Member Diane Robinson
Board Member Jeremy Almond
Board Member Beth Thomas
Board Member Kenny Kendall
Board Member Neal Speight
Board Member Shaun Morgan
Board Member Kristi Small
Board Member Victoria Ramos
Board Member Wendell Drye
Board Member Seena Koohestani
C ounty Commissioner Trent Hatley
II. Swearing In Ceremony - Oath of Office, Commissioner Trent Hatley
Teri Bowers, Notary Public, administered the Oath of Office to County Commissioner
Trent Hatley.
III. Adoption of Agenda
Board Member Kendall moved to Approve, seconded by Board Member Robinson and
Passed by a 12 - 0 vote.

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Result: Passed
Mover: Board Member Kendall
Seconder: Board Member Robinson
Ayes: Patty Crump, Diane Robinson, Jeremy Almond, Beth Thomas, Kenny
Kendall, Neal Speight, Shaun Morgan, Kristi Small, Victoria Ramos,
Wendell Drye, Seena Koohestani, Trent Hatley
IV. Scheduled Agenda Items
A. Discussion of Board Appointments
Presenter: Dolly Clayton, Human Services Director
Mrs. Clayton reminded Board members of the discussion of Board seats in November
and that Sean Picker attended that meeting and was recommended to the Board of
Commissioners to fill the pharmacist seat. However, since that meeting, another
volunteer application was received by Sharon Efird, who is interested in filling that
vacant pharmacist seat as well. All up to date board applications were shared with the
Board prior to the meeting. Both Mr. Pickler and Ms. Efird are in attendance at tonight's
meeting. The Board of County Commissioners tabled that recommendation at their
November 17th meeting. Mrs. Clayton discussed the other vacant professional seats as
well, stating the physician, dentist, psychiatrist and psychologist member seats were
vacant. Shaun Morgan made a motion to move Dr. Speight from his current general
public member seat to the vacant physician member seat. That motion was seconded
by Chair Koohestani and passed by unanimous vote. Also, a motion was made by
Commissioner Hatley to recommend applicant Jennifer Lehn, who was in attendance, to
fill the general public member seat and serve the remainder of that term, which will
become vacant with the proposed move of Dr. Speight to fill the physician seat. This
motion was seconded by Victoria Ramos, and passed by unanimous vote.
Both pharmacists addressed the Board and discussed their qualifications and interests
in serving on the Board. After discussion, Chair Koohestani moved to recommend
Sharon Efird to fill the vacant pharmacist member seat, seconded by Shaun Morgan.
The motion passed by a 9 - 3 vote, with members Almond, Thomas and Small voting
no. There was a motion by Commissioner Hatley to recommend Dr. Link, stating there
were no other qualified applications, for re-appointment to the veterinarian member
seat, seconded by Kenny Kendall. The motion passed by unanimous vote. Also,
Commissioner Hatley made a motion to recommend Seena Koohestani for re-
appointment, as his term expires March 3rd, seconded by Kenny Kendall. This motion
passed by unanimous vote.
V. Consolidated Human Services Updates
A. D.S.S. Updates

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Mrs. Dolly Clayton reviewed the DSS Report of Services, focusing on November 2025.
However, she pointed to an error in the omission of CAP/DA cases on the November
report, stating that number should be 74. She shared there were 67 children in foster
care, a small drop in Medicaid recipients and Food and Nutrition Services from the
previous month. Sharing accomplishments by staff, she mentioned Adult Medicaid has
made progress on their backlog and, following some changes, they did well on their
Medicaid audit. Mrs. Clayton shared that the agency and county staff continue to
support foster care by providing supervision to foster kids in the office, who are waiting
for placement. They continue to fill vacancies across the department, then they become
busy with all the training that is required. Mrs. Clayton reminded the Board of the Low
Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) being delayed by the government shut
down. However, 425 applications were auto enrolled due to receiving services in the
past. New applications normally start on December 1st but were delayed until
December 10th, with a total of 40 applications for December. Applications from all
households opened January 1st and as of today, they have taken 109 applications for a
total of 149 applications for this program. She shared that DSS and Health supported
Stanly County Christian Ministries throughout the holidays by collecting food donations.
DSS delivered a total of 233 pounds and Health will be delivering their donations soon.
Also, DSS continues to work on formalizing their relationship with Faith Alive Ministries
to form a partnership to help provide temporary emergency placement overnight in their
Dream House instead of sleeping in the DSS office.
1. Board Report - October 2025
2. Board Report - November 2025
B. Health Department Updates
1. Budget Performance Report
The Budget Performance Report was included in the Board packet. No new updates
were provided.
2. Activity Report
Mrs. Clayton reviewed the Health Activity report that is included in the Board packet,
through November 2025. She mentioned the rise in the no-show appointments, sharing
that some of those were due to patients being worried about possible ICE activity in the
community and didn't want to show for their appointments. She still plans to implement
a clinic flow assessment and other plans to improve clinic flow.
They have implemented a new social media marketing strategy and encouraged Board
members to share social media posts to help increase visibility. She shared that in
December, Health Education staff (Wendy Growcock) and she and Nursing Director
(Trena Lambert-Simpson) worked to get information to apply for a Community Health
Grant. This is a three year rural health grant that offers services to the uninsured and
underinsured population with only 33 agency recipients. They hope to know if our
agency was selected in March.

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Mrs. Clayton reminded the Board of the employee/partner awards that were awarded
around this time last year and asked if they'd like to offer these this year for staff. These
awards consist of community partner of the year, employee of the year and supervisor
of the year for both DSS and Health. There will be nominations by staff and decided by
a committee of Board members. Kristi Small, Chair Seena Koohestani and Kenny
Kendall volunteered to be on this committee. They also decided on a Budget committee
with Chair Koohestani, Dr. Speight and Shaun Morgan volunteering to serve on that
n ear budget time.
VI. Adoption of Consent Agenda
Board Member Kendall moved to Approve, seconded by Board Member Morgan and
Passed by a 12 - 0 vote.
Result: Passed
Mover: Board Member Kendall
Seconder: Board Member Morgan
Ayes: Patty Crump, Diane Robinson, Jeremy Almond, Beth Thomas, Kenny
Kendall, Neal Speight, Shaun Morgan, Kristi Small, Victoria Ramos,
Wendell Drye, Seena Koohestani, Trent Hatley
A. Minutes
1. Meeting Minutes from 11-07-25 monthly Board meeting.
VII. Public Comment
There were no public comments.
VIII. Adjourn
______________________________ ______________________________
Seena Koohestani, Chair Teri Bowers, Administrative Assistant