Or a family who had contacted CPP initially might not be able to talk now because of a settlement that included a nondisclosure agreement. This interpretation of the rules can make it difficult for other branches of state government to hold DSS agencies accountable for possible mistakes, much less the news media, which has no access to subpoena powers. It is my taxes that go to CCS. In 2020, police in Black Mountain pulled over a swerving car and arrested all three adults. If you have an update to county agency information, please email dssweb@dhhs.nc.gov. Her trailer had no heat, according to statements to law enforcement. In Buncombe County you can make a Protective Service referral or report by calling (828) 250-5800 anytime, day or night. Visit RelayNCfor information about TTY services. In almost all cases where a child is young or at immediate risk, child welfare workers are required to respond immediately. Your support funds important public interest journalism. 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. 39. Prosecutors filed additional charges, including incest, aiding and abetting incest, child prostitution and other felony sex offenses involving multiple close relatives. A legislative study has shown that intake procedures differ widely among counties throughout North Carolina. "I'm grateful to have an opportunity to serve even in the interim at this point in my career.". I think it is critical for this committee to thoroughly understand why anyone thought it would be OK to leave a 9-year-old girl in a hotel room with a stranger that contained needles and drugs, Edwards said. Policy choices are made by individuals, though geographical isolation and limited resources may promote decisions in some areas of the state more than others. At times he was asked his thoughts on how to improve the states child welfare system. You may remain anonymous but we encourage you to give us your name in the event additional information is needed. Sources report that the Cleveland County Commissioners have selected Katie Swanson from the Buncombe County DSS as the Director of the Cleveland County DSS. Some families accused DSS staff of generally playing God with peoples lives and acting in a conspiratorial manner. At the core of what Scott will be working on within the department is the philosophy of "maintain, not correct," he said. Their stories were often shocking and always emotional. But it took years for one young child to disclose what happened to her in the home. A good many are probably false or contain half-truths. Blevins said he cant talk about specific child welfare cases because of confidentiality laws. 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. Buncombe - DSS Jobs NC Places nearby. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Buncombe County Health and Human Services Director Stoney Blevins sits at his desk in Asheville. Sen. Jim Perry pushed back at the notion of blanket confidentiality. A social worker ordered a family to banish the family dog, who had bitten no one. Upcoming articles in this series will examine the systemic problems that create challenges for child protective services in North Carolina and potential solutions. Post Office Box 7408. Officer had to use extreme caution due to the number of needles located.. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To make an adult or child protective services report any time, day or night, call the numbers below: Early Childhood Education & Development Fund, Environmental & Energy Stewardship Subcommittee, Parks, Greenways and Recreation Advisory Board. Addison was placed in foster care in Transylvania County. If you like what you are reading and believe in independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan journalism like oursjournalism the way it should beplease contributeto keep us going. 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. And Im willing to have that conversation if this body is willing to take that action.. Blevins said confidentiality laws, as well as state rules surrounding personnel information, prevent him from saying more without a judges intervention. Shortly before DHHS discovered Cherokee County was using unlawful agreements to separate families, a report about a three-day visit to the department included dire concerns. Why didnt DSS show up on the scene? Blevins was asked to testify before the General Assembly last year about how social workers handled a case, but his hands were tied by confidentiality rules. 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. Stoney Blevins, director of the Buncombe County Department of Social Services, testified before a state legislative committee last week, saying he couldnt tell legislators much about a specific child welfare case due to confidentiality laws. She told the police she wanted to go home. Select a county on the map to view phone numbers, websites, physical addresses and mailing addresses. Swanson is currently the Social Work Program Administrator for Buncombe County Health and Human Services where she provides . Blevins was subpoenaed to appear before the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee of Health and Human Services last week a tool legislators rarely use to compel uncooperative witnesses. Bakers stepmother was already the subject of previous abuse findings. Buncombe County DSS Mr. Stoney Blevins, Director 828-250-5588. I mean you cant get back the last couple years of these little children, you know.. A decade ago in Swain County, 15-month-oldAubrey Kina-Marie Littlejohndied while under supervision by county DSS. Monday - Friday 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. 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 I ended the phone call.. If county officials decide to go beyond the scope of state guidelines, or in some cases beyond what state and federal laws allow, those choices are being made by individuals, some of whom already face criminal prosecution. There appeared to be no attempt by the police or DSS to follow up with the Sheriffs Office. Three adults and a 9-year-old girl were in the car. A grand jury first indicted the mother for neglect in 2015. Your support funds important public interest journalism. NC legislative oversight committee questions whether DSS official really needs a judges order to let him address his employees handling of case involving child. Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. In a case of suspected abuse in a foster care setting, DSS is obligated to notify law enforcement. County Social Services Director - DSS Jobs NC At the close of the hearing, Sen. Edwards asked Blevins if the same DSS worker handled both calls from the Black Mountain Police Department. Such records are typically open to prosecutors, according toPeg Dorer, with the N.C. Conference of District Attorneys. {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. The server responded with {{status_text}} (code {{status_code}}). And yet, I do not see proof that weve implemented the plans that have been made.. Local DSS Directory | NCDHHS State Sen. Chuck Edwards said during the hearing that police officers were told by a social worker to leave the girl in a hotel room with a man she didnt know. Kate Martin is lead investigative reporter for Carolina Public Press. We can fix OUR Schools. The legal and bureaucratic system surrounding child removals can be difficult to navigate, so that even social workers from one county may find aspects of how things are done in another county quite alien, and the average person is unable to make sense of whats happening. Questions or comments? NC Department of Health and Human Services 2001 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-2000. For several months DSS did not produce confidential child welfare records for a criminal case after the DAs office sought them. Blevins evaded, citing confidentiality rules. Contact him at ftaylor@carolinapublicpress.org. Click a goal. When CPP brought the case to the attention of deputies in 2016, they conducted an investigation. After children return to the home, social workers stay in touch to make sure they are safe. As a retired CPS SWS, calls from APD and BCSO, were immediately responded to as a professional courtesy. I can promise you, I would be better served to speak to you about the things youre asking me, Blevins said. Such records are typically open to prosecutors, according to Peg Dorer, with the N.C. Conference of District Attorneys. And I think you could understand how we would see that it could have the department or its failures.. No appointment is needed. Job Contact. Lets start meeting and talking and get ready to kick these rats out. A county with an annual removal rate exactly the same as the statewide rate would have a 100% comparison rating, a county that removed children on average at twice the statewide rate would have a 200% comparison rating, and a county that removed children on average at half the statewide rate would have a 50% comparison rating. What's new with Memorial Stadium? Social Worker Investigative/Assessment and Treatment. But the grandmother said she could not care for Addison, Reeves younger child, at that time. Each of North Carolina's 100 counties has a local social services agency. Zahra Baker was a native of Australia who lived in Catawba County with her father and stepmother. The purpose of intake questions is to determine how urgently a case needs the governments attention. The DSS worker said we could leave the child in the room, but she hopes we would not do that, the report says. State law also allows DSS offices to disclose records to prosecutors without court orders, said Sara DePasquale, an associate professor specializing in child welfare law at the UNC School of Government, two years ago. Are new people living there? P: (828) 250-5800. 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. Social Worker Buncombe Family and Children's Services Many of the counties with very low rates or rates in the middle also experience poverty. The officer wrote in his report, "I told her I did not have time to do that, I had to find a safe place for the child. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press Their stories were often shocking and always emotional. Additional information on reporting abuse. Office Assistant III-FNS - DSS Jobs NC 1,900+ former CCS Students 19-22 years old-Set for Failure-Right Now!!! 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. Thank you for serving our children. The DSS agent who had documented the abuse in foster care no longer worked there by this time. When reached by police, a relative said he couldnt drive at night to pick her up.