# Health & Human Services Board Meeting | July 24, 2026

**Body:** Buncombe County Government — Buncombe County Health and Human Services Board
**Date:** July 24, 2026 12:02 PM EDT (2026-07-24T12:02:33-04:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/3001

## Summary

**Buncombe County Health and Human Services Board Meeting Recap**
**Date:** July 24, 2026

**Meeting Overview and Administrative Actions**
The Buncombe County Health and Human Services Board convened on July 24, 2026, to address administrative duties, review program updates, and discuss recent staffing and budgetary changes. The board began by voting unanimously to approve the agenda and the minutes from the previous meeting. Additionally, the board voted to nominate the current Chair and Vice Chair to continue their respective roles on the Executive Committee, with both incumbents recusing themselves from the voting process. Existing members Elizabeth, Johnny, and Linda also confirmed their intention to remain on the Executive Committee. The County Manager clarified that Executive Committee members meet weekly via Zoom prior to main board meetings to review agendas and interview candidates.

**Program Updates: The START Initiative**
A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a presentation by Rebecca Smith and the START (Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams) program team, including Samantha Robinson, Ashley, Katherine Watkins, and Amy Cole. The board learned that START is an evidence-based, internal program within Buncombe County Health and Human Services designed for families with a child age five or younger where substance use and child maltreatment co-occur. The program pairs a social worker with a family mentor who has lived experience with addiction and the child welfare system. National data cited indicates a 50% reduction in out-of-home placement and over 75% of children remaining with or being reunified with their parents. Locally, Buncombe County has seen foster care numbers drop from 380 in 2017 to 270. However, the team highlighted a critical funding crisis: as of late May, the state withdrew 80% of the program’s funding. The department is currently repurposing existing vacancies and using opioid settlement funds to maintain one position while negotiating with Healthy Blue Care Together and the state for future support.

**Director’s Report and Budgetary Context**
The County Manager provided a report on broader departmental changes, noting that the recent state budget passage resulted in funding reductions for various programs. This has necessitated local budget amendments (RBAs) to adjust line items and contracts. The department also completed a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) post-Tulane, which highlighted significant ongoing mental health impacts in the community. A presentation by Nathan Green on these findings is scheduled for a future meeting. Regarding staffing, Philip has retired, and Kimberly Fullerton has assumed the role of interim manager for Economic Services. Dan Frayn and Greg have rotated off the board, with the board emphasizing the importance of maintaining a 75% attendance threshold for future candidates.

**Community Input and Clarifications**
Public comments focused on clarifying the scope and operation of the START program. A community member asked if the program serves non-English speaking families; the presenters confirmed that while there are no Spanish-speaking family mentors, interpreting services are utilized to serve English-speaking families. The five-year-old age cutoff was explained as a national model requirement for fidelity, with older children served through general child welfare services. Another community member expressed concern about the realism of expecting individuals with active addiction to seek help voluntarily, citing unsafe conditions in public spaces. The presenters clarified that START is a mandated, non-voluntary service triggered by reports of abuse, neglect, or dependency. Family mentors engage with families "where they are," including shelters or streets. A member from the VA noted the distinction between this mandated service and self-referral community mental health programs, asking how the public learns about the initiative. The presenter explained that community outreach is limited to provider agencies, and the public is directed to call Child Protective Services with concerns.

**Follow-ups and Next Steps**
Several follow-up actions were identified for future meetings. The County Manager agreed to have Nathan Green present the findings from the CASPER assessment at a future meeting, likely the next month, to discuss mental health impacts. The START team is awaiting a formal evaluation report from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill regarding outcome data, which will be shared with the board once received. No other immediate motions or authorizations were passed during this session beyond the approval of minutes and executive committee nominations.

**Impact on Residents**
This meeting underscores the operational challenges facing Buncombe County’s child welfare and addiction recovery services, particularly the sudden loss of state funding for the START program. By maintaining the program through repurposed vacancies and opioid settlement funds, the county is attempting to preserve a service model that has demonstrably reduced foster care placements and increased family reunification rates. The upcoming CASPER presentation and the pending UNC data report will provide further insight into the community’s mental health needs and the effectiveness of current interventions, informing future budget decisions and service delivery strategies.

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLav4aHnjY4
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/2039/segments

## Sources

- [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLav4aHnjY4)