Human Services elects citizen representative

Ormond Beach Observer
Neighbors

Volusia County Human Services held a meeting Sept. 28 at the Ormond Beach Regional Library to select an area representative for the Human Services Advisory Board. The main responsibility for the advisory board is to provide citizen oversight on how state money is spent from the Community Services Block Grant to help low-income county residents. Members also identify community needs and evaluate program effectiveness.

Meetings are held throughout the county to ensure there is representation on the board from the various communities, said Human Services Manager Clayton Jackson.

The winner of the election was Ericka Sipp, who has been an active volunteer in helping the homeless.

“I love the family program, FSSP,” she said after the meeting.

The Family Self-Sufficiency Program started in February and helps low-risk homeless households obtain rental housing and work toward self-sufficiency. Jackson said that those in the program must take classes in subjects such as child care and financial literacy and seek employment by utilizing CareerSource.

Sipp said she wants to be involved so she can help with the success of the program.

“You have to know the gospel to spread the gospel,” she said.

Jackson said when homeless programs such as the Coalition for the Homeless accept clients, they have a limited number of openings, so they always take the most chronically homeless. FSSP allows families that are just down on their luck a chance to get help.

“It’s a much-needed service,” he said. “It’s been amazing. People are getting jobs.”

Volusia County Human Services has several other programs, including ones that help with electricity bills and transportation assistance.

The Advisory Board members are nominated and elected at the meetings, so those who bring several supporters to the meeting stand a good chance at being elected. The terms are for two years, and new elections are also needed when a board member resigns and no alternate has been selected.

Also at the meeting, Rev. Terri Malia was selected as an alternate board member. Malia previously helped at the food bank at St. James Episcopal Church in Ormond Beach. She said she is currently on sabbatical and is seeking a volunteer opportunity. She believes it’s important for residents to be involved in advisory boards.

“Citizens may see needs that slip through the cracks,” she said.

Both Sipp and Malia live in Daytona Beach, but Jackson said that would be OK for Ormond Beach area representation.

There are 15 members of the Human Services Advisory Board: five appointed by the County Council; five from the private sector; and five citizens elected at regional meetings.

Call Human Services at 736-5956 or visit www.volusia.org and search for Human Services.