buncombe county dss director

document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Pitt County Department of Social Services (DSS) is seeking a mission-driven leader to be their next Social Services Director. Select a county on the map to view phone numbers, websites, physical addresses and mailing addresses. Such records are typically open to prosecutors, according to Peg Dorer, with the N.C. Conference of District Attorneys. This is your chance to support credible, community-based, public-service journalism. I apologize that I cant answer, Blevins said. A lock icon or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Graham County DSS Ms. Amy Seay, Director 196 Knight Street Post Office Box 1150 Robbinsville, NC 28771 Tel. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press. Its often impossible to know because the evidence surrounding child protective services is not available to the public. F. (828) 250-6235. She died during the winter, wearing only a T-shirt and her diaper. The elected district attorney,Ashley Welch, told CPP then that she took an unusual step of filing a motion to compel DSS to provide documents after her office was repeatedly denied an opportunity to view the records. In some cases, people may have kept enough records and can present a credible account shored up by documentation. Pitt County, designated in 2020 as an All-American County by the National Civic League, is located in the central portion of the Coastal Plain. The intake process can take a while, as it requires people who report abuse to answer many questions. Your email address will not be published. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Explore departmental dashboards. The Social Services Director will be responsible for setting strategy and direction for all Department of Social Service programs, being a change agent for the organization, and building a cohesive DSS team. Lets start meeting and talking and get ready to kick these rats out. The fact that they have lasted so long-to retirement age-is a tragedy and sheds a very bad light on all of Cleveland Countys so-called leadership. But the map also shows that the high and very high counties mostly cluster geographically, as do the low and very low counties. The North Carolina General Assembly meets in the State Legislative Building in Raleigh, seen here in Feb. 2018. Frank Taylor is the managing editor of Carolina Public Press. Some lawmakers were incensed. Noyes said she continues to work with her daughter to regain custody of the children but has become disappointed by the process. Each countys average annual removal rate, compared with the states annual removal rate, was calculated as a percentage of the states rate. ), socially joined at the hip, high headed in their own mind educrats. The boys death spurred lawmakers to action, and the General Assembly approved a package of major reforms with strong bipartisan support. Veritas HHS "I'm still kind of young in my career. The position is appointed by and reports to a five-member Local Social Services Board. The Cleveland County Department of Social Services has a new director. The Purpose of Buncombe County Health and Human Services is to strengthen our communities by advancing health, safety, and opportunity. Secure websites use HTTPS certificates. Box 7408 State Courier #: 12-50-02 Phone: 828-250-5500 Fax Number: 828-250-6235 Emergency Phone: 828-250-5500 Website Key Staff Director: Stoney Blevins Administrative Assistant: Christa Lance , 828-250-5587 Much to lawmakers chagrin, Blevins could not confirm or deny anything in the police report due to strict laws protecting the privacy of the girl and her family. During visitation with the family in 2014, they noticed marks on him, which led to a Department of Social Services investigation. It was unclear whether photos documenting bruises were taken immediately or later, but they showed far less bruising than the family remembered seeing. Buncombe County has an average of 1,600 employees who serve as sheriff deputies, nurses, social workers, librarians, emergency medical workers, park rangers, environmental health specialists, planners, tax assessors, administrators and more - all working to serve the residents of Buncombe County. We are prohibited by statute to disclose the name of the reporter except when law enforcement is conducting a criminal investigation related to abuse, neglect or exploitation of the adult; or unless ordered by the court. He was making a salary of $161,785.44, according to a public records request. Ideally, when social workers conduct their monthly home visits, they look for changes in the home. Many of the counties with very low rates or rates in the middle also experience poverty. The 2020 Elections can put an end to that. When news organizations contact local departments of social services offices with questions about a specific case, the agencies are typically unable to discuss them. Some families accused DSS staff of generally playing God with peoples lives and acting in a conspiratorial manner. GPS Longitude:-82.548709. Blevins pointed out that the police report says the officer hung up on the DSS worker who was trying to take the report. Blevins said confidentiality laws, as well as state rules surrounding personnel information, prevent him from saying more without a judges intervention. These records are tied into funding. Then, using the child population of each county during the year in question, reporters calculated the percentage of children removed in a given year. Her trailer had no heat, according to statements to law enforcement. There appeared to be no attempt by the police or DSS to follow up with the Sheriffs Office. Families from many parts of North Carolina who contacted CPP made repeated claims of social workers and social services lawyers insulting families for being poor, uneducated, Black, Cherokee, Lumbee, from out of state, the wrong religion or simply for not being knowledgeable about the policies of that jurisdiction. Is everyone healthy and is there enough food? Cherokee County DSS never responded to CPPs questions about the records fracas but provided the records to the DAs office after CPP published a story about the issue. Reporting like this isnt free to produce and we cannot do this alone. Three adults and a 9-year-old girl were in the car. 39. In September 2016, a CPP investigation learned that the boy had been adopted within weeks of his mothers death. Those removing children at two-thirds the state rate are considered low, and those removing at less than half the state rate are considered very low. In some cases, people may have kept enough records and can present a credible account shored up by documentation. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press. Forging contact records is not trivial. This project was produced for the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalisms 2020 Data Fellowship. Customer Service Center:1-800-662-7030 Legislators in the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services voted 15-8 along party lines Tuesday in favor of subpoenaing Buncombe Health and Human Services Director Stoney Blevins, with Republicans in favor and Democrats against. Choose a focus area. Yourtax-deductible donationwill advance our mission of supporting journalism as a catalyst for change. You may also make the report in writing. I told her I did not have time to do that, I had to find a safe place for the child. Pitt County is approximately 90 miles east of Raleigh NC with a population of 180,742. Email her at imari.scarbrough@gmail.com. Each member of a public agency or department must submit contact information for the Buncombe County personnel directory. His grandmother and aunt told CPP that they would have taken him so that he could grow up alongside his brother, but no one from DSS contacted them. Job Contact. . Required fields are marked *. New Jersey officials ruled the case a suicide, but a Carolina Public Press investigation identifiedproblems with this explanationthat have never been resolved. The North Carolina General Assembly meets in the State Legislative Building in Raleigh, seen here in Feb. 2018. But what to do with the 9-year-old girl? The boys deathspurred lawmakers to action, and the General Assembly approved a package of major reforms with strong bipartisan support. They may think the system has wronged their families. Are new people living there? They described social workers ignoring judges instructions on keeping families together, social workers who acted on personal dislike of their families and irreversible adoptions that did not follow policy or the law and inappropriately kept family members in the dark about what was happening. The Magazine Basic Theme by bavotasan.com. A decade ago in Swain County, 15-month-old Aubrey Kina-Marie Littlejohn died while under supervision by county DSS. But the grandmother said she could not care for Addison, Reeves younger child, at that time. These are system answers to human problems.. Public Employee Directories list that contact information, such as names, phone numbers, and . Carolina Public Press has confirmed that there was a subpoena. Im so disgusted with the system. To be perfectly honest, I just think we need to take action.. One relative was convicted last year and is serving a 12-year prison sentence, another is serving a suspended sentence of five years, and a third is serving a two-year prison sentence. Its just disturbing. Because of his time at various departments within the county, the news release said the county is confident his institutional knowledge will help him in his primarily inward-facing role. But the grandmother said she could not care for Addison, Reeves younger child, at that time. A grand jury first indicted the mother for neglect in 2015. After children return to the home, social workers stay in touch to make sure they are safe. The mechanism to get that level of discussion is with an order signed by a judge. To learn more, view our full privacy policy. It is important to screen cases correctly, or agencies risk violating parents constitutional rights to raise their children. A CPP investigation nearly two years later found that the family had notified the Brevard Police Department. A spokesperson for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services told CPP at the time that the foster mother would no longer be able to foster children in North Carolina. County Social Services Director Work Type Directors and Program Managers Position Number 221-16-0001 Salary $72,892 - $109,338 Closing Date May 10, 2021 Posted April 23, 2021 Agency Name Mitchell County Department of Social Services Work County Mitchell Job Contact Graham County DSS Ms. Amy Seay, Director 196 Knight Street Post Office Box 1150 Robbinsville, NC 28771 Tel. ASHEVILLE - Buncombe County's Public Health. She wasnt sure why that didnt happen in Addisons case, and privacy laws prevented her from discussing the details. No subpoena is necessary.. Thats all Im going to say, best leave before I get upset. Ideally, when social workers conduct their monthly home visits, they look for changes in the home. CPP then mapped these comparison percentages, marking distinctly those at the extremes. Officer had to use extreme caution due to the number of needles located.. Does the child feel safe? With new equality rules coming down the pipe, many of us will most likely meet the Director. Report and History Lesson by Robert A. Williams . In the bathroom there was a plastic container nearly full of used needles, the police report says. Reporting like this isnt free to produce and we cannot do this alone. According to Scott, the department has worked hard over the last few years to regain its trust from other internal departments and the general public after former County Manager Wanda Greene was indicted on embezzlement charges and went to federal prison. Carolina Public Press contributing reporter Christian Green also assisted with interviews for this article. The law gave DHHS authority to enforce performance standards at each county, and for DHHS to take over DSS offices that chronically underperform an authority DHHS used a few months later when it took over Cherokee Countys child welfare division. Starting in June, Blevins directed Buncombe County social workers to respond to the scene of all law enforcement requests and shared the protocol with county law enforcement agencies. Officers located needles on the beds, the nightstands, TV stand and the bathroom. Monday - Friday The DSS agent who had documented the abuse in foster care no longer worked there by this time. Entertainment:Food Network's 'Spring Baking Championship' to feature WNC pastry chef. Bakers stepmother was already the subject of previous abuse findings. Stay up to date with the most current information. Angry and desperate parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles have contacted Carolina Public Press for years hoping to share their stories and possibly get help in investigating what went wrong with their families experiences with child protective services in North Carolina counties. Now, much of that trust has been regained, Scott said, and after the work put in over the last several years, the department now has what Scott calls "stable processes. Scott has a bachelor's degree in German from Wake Forest University and a masters degree in project management from Western Carolina University, according to the county's news release. Customer Service Center: 1-800-662-7030 Visit RelayNC for information about TTY services. CPP is not naming the adults because naming them could identify the young children. Carolina Public Press is an independent nonprofit news organization dedicated to nonpartisan, in-depth and investigative news built upon the facts and context North Carolinians need to know. If you cant answer because you dont know or you can answer because you refuse to under some other authority, Edwards said. Closing Date. You may remain anonymous but we encourage you to give us your name in the event additional information is needed. If you would like to obtain posters or rack cards, please email hhscommunications@buncombecounty.org, Social Work Services Franklin. The Director is responsible for a budget of over $350 million dollars including Medicaid and Food Stamp benefits and slightly over 300 employees. Stoney Blevins, director of the Buncombe County Department of Social Services, testified before a state legislative committee last week, saying he couldn't tell legislators much about a specific child welfare case due to confidentiality laws. Catherine Noyesis a grandmother who expresses frustration over the Cabarrus County Department of Social Services and courts handling of her familys case. Your email address will not be published. Police arrested all three adults after saying they found drugs and used needles, according to the report. When CPP brought the case to the attention of deputies in 2016, they conducted an investigation. Prosecutors filed additional charges, including incest, aiding and abetting incest, child prostitution and other felony sex offenses involving multiple close relatives. Noyes said at first she thought that if you worked through the system and presented your case honestly, the situation would work out, but she now has no confidence in DSS and the family courts, a view she said is shared by members of other families whom shes talked with during court appearances. Wrongful Termination and Breach of Contract!!! But even in some of these cases, legal counsel may ultimately advise them not to discuss the situation further. Blevins said to improve the child welfare system, North Carolina doesnt need major changes in the law, rather a unified commitment to implement the plans we already have.. Reliable sources also report that CCDSS Interim Director Jane Shooter is mad as a hornet that she was NOT promoted to the CCDSS Director position. Your support funds important public interest journalism. State Courier #: 12-50-02 "The county has a strong team in the Finance Department and we appreciate Mason serving as our interim as the Commissioners undergo a search process to hire a new permanent Finance Director for Buncombe County," Board of Commissioners Chair Brownie Newman said. Not long afterward, he died of an overdose. Thank you! Copyright 2023 Citizens For Good Government. The study showed that correctly ranking the risk to children can be a difficult task, and even supervisors can incorrectly screen hypothetical child welfare cases. Some of them are likely true. Rutherford County DSS Work County Rutherford Job Contact Luann Butler PO Box 242 389 Fairground Road Spindale, NC 28160 Office - 828-287-6283 FAX - 828-288-3406 Email: luann.butler@rutherfordcountync.gov Job Location 389 Fairground Road Spindale North Carolina 28160 Job Description Position Responsibilities: Records from Reeves communications during the final weeks of her life show that she was repeatedly at odds with DSS agents over her son, though what she knew about his location was not clear. Once a referral is taken for Protective Services, a Social Worker will be assigned the case. Please read on to understand the state statute and Social Work Services responsibility. Im so disgusted with the system. But it took years for one young child to disclose what happened to her in the home. And then we seem surprised when it fails. While Blevins said the states juvenile code forbade him from providing specifics about the March incident, he had a lot to say about improving the states child welfare system. He said he is lucky that the county is already in such a strong financial position so that he can focus on proactive instead of reactive work. Police arrested all three adults, one of whom was the girls father. A lock icon or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. "The county is in a strong financial position, so I think it makes the work that we do easier.". If the purpose of the record request is to protect a juvenile, then no court order would be needed, DePasquale told CPP. Child welfare officials rank reported cases of abuse and respond either immediately, within 24 hours or within 72 hours depending on the severity of the allegation. The case made international headlines over the following months, focusing a world spotlight on the total failure of the child protection system in her case. Didnt they care this girl was going to be left with someone she did not know? If you have an update to county agency information, please email dssweb@dhhs.nc.gov . Email her at kmartin@carolinapublicpress.org. Related:A timeline of the Buncombe County corruption investigation, Recent Reporting:Wanda Greene dark money lawsuit mediator orders her to hand over answers before Christmas. Blevins had said the subpoena was unnecessary. Carolina Public Press provides in-depth, investigative reporting on issues affecting Western North Carolina in a nonprofit, nonpartisan setting. Her trailer had no heat, according to statements to law enforcement. But the foster care residence was in unincorporated Transylvania County, not the city of Brevard. Some abuse is so heinous that workers are required to investigate immediately. In Buncombe County you can make a Protective Service referral or report by calling (828) 250-5800 anytime, day or night. She told the police she wanted to go home. "There are a lot of people in this organization that work directly with the public and with the community, and they are doing great work, and I feel very privileged to be in a role that supports those other people.". DSS seized children during a drug raid that found no evidence and was conducted at the wrong house on warrants intended for a search elsewhere. The DSS Director reports directly to the Board of Social Services and reports indirectly to the County Manager's Office. Addison was placed in foster care in Transylvania County. Post Office Box 7408. This is your chance to support credible, community-based, public-service journalism. Our award-winning, breakthrough journalism dismantles barriers and shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing our states 10.2 million residents. When Reeves sister, Suzan Bayorgeon, contacted CPP in late 2015, her family was distraught not only over Reeves death but also because they did not know the whereabouts of her youngest son, Addison. DHHS Childrens Program representative Brian Vogl stated concerns for falsifying the foster care monthly contact records these are identical, and they are falsifying these records, the memo stated. Officers told her they might take him to jail and sarcastically asked if he should leave the girl alone in the hotel room. Counties removing children at more than 150% of the state average rate were marked high, while those removing children at 200% or more are marked very high. If it is an emergency, an on-call social worker is available after regular business hours and weekends. This is part 2 of the four-part investigative series Patchwork Protection produced by Kate Martinfor the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalisms 2020 Data Fellowship. An official website of the State of North Carolina, Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse, Office Of Minority Health And Health Disparities, Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing. Stacie Saunders, Buncombe County's public health director, who is leaving her position at the end of the year for a state government role. Blevins will be subpoenaed to testify during an Oct. 13 committee hearing regarding a March 20 incident in which Black Mountain police officers asked Buncombe County's DSS for help with a 9-year-old girl after arresting her father. Noyes said she continues to work with her daughter to regain custody of the children but has become disappointed by the process. Provides receptionist duties at times to Central Clerical. 40 Coxe Avenue Taking a child from a parent is considered a last resort and is usually done to prevent imminent harm or maltreatment of a child. Printable DSS Directory I ended the phone call.. Our staff is committed to providing Buncombe's diverse population with effective services in a timely and respectful manner. Are new people living there? Christian Smith is the general assignment reporter for the Asheville Citizen-Times. But what to do with the 9-year-old girl? Places nearby. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Or a family who had contacted CPP initially might not be able to talk now because of a settlement that included a nondisclosure agreement. Legislators grill Buncombe DSS director, who disputes Black Mountain cops, intake procedures differ widely among counties, Legislators subpoena Buncombe official over DSS handling of childs case, Stories recount concerns with DSS agencies across North Carolina, Change in NC rent aid programs could force counties to pull from their own budgets, Mining in your backyard: The story of Mountain Mist Mine and the neighbors contesting it, part two, Mining in your backyard: The story of Mountain Mist Mine and the neighbors contesting it, part one, Teen girls engulfed in a growing wave of sadness, violence and trauma, latest youth survey shows, Looming cuts to emergency SNAP benefits threaten food security in rural America, Taking a moonshot at early colorectal cancer detection in northeastern NC, Your support funds important public interest journalism, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Trouble in Paradise for Sure!!! One was located in a glove inside a door pocket, a police report says. I had this conversation with (Sen. Chuck Edwards) the very first day we spoke in April, Blevins said. Shooter is not expected to last very long. Raleigh, NC 27699-2000. A social worker ordered a family to banish the family dog, who had bitten no one. Visit RelayNCfor information about TTY services. Confidentiality rules intended to protect children present challenges for investigating allegations of DSS misconduct.