Then, using the child population of each county during the year in question, reporters calculated the percentage of children removed in a given year. Each countys average annual removal rate, compared with the states annual removal rate, was calculated as a percentage of the states rate. 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. Each countys average annual removal rate, compared with the states annual removal rate, was calculated as a percentage of the states rate. Reporting like this isnt free to produce and we cannot do this alone. The police reported that an officer called Buncombe County DSS but then hung up on the social worker. Social workers removed him from the foster care setting, but the family remained unclear about what happened to him next, they told CPP. But even in some of these cases, legal counsel may ultimately advise them not to discuss the situation further. We would never support leaving a child in a hotel room with a stranger and 300 used needles, as a blanket statement, Blevins said last year. Low counties are clustered in the rural northeastern counties, which typically have very low populations. Its often impossible to know because the evidence surrounding child protective services is not available to the public. Director of Buncombe County Health and Human Services Talmadge "Stoney" Blevins provided few answers to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services about why officers with the Black Mountain Police Department were reportedly told to leave a 9-year-old girl in a hotel room with a stranger, meth, and more than 100 . Please read on to understand the state statute and Social Work Services responsibility. He was appointed by the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners to take over the role that has oversight over all county spending, after working for Buncombe County for 11 years across many different departments. Henderson County residentFelicia Reevesdisappeared in August 2015. He told officers that he had met the girl for the first time that day and volunteered to watch her. Carolina Public Press has confirmed that there was a subpoena. I do hope that the new Director will help me, we, us, or you the citizen. But the map also shows that the high and very high counties mostly cluster geographically, as do the low and very low counties. County Social Services Director - DSS Jobs NC Are new people living there? Stories Recount Concerns With DSS Agencies Across North Carolina Would love your thoughts, please comment. I told her I did not have time to do that, I had to find a safe place for the child. Thank you! As a result, the family said, the statute of limitations had expired, and no one could be charged two years later. Email her at kmartin@carolinapublicpress.org. She told the police she wanted to go home. Blevins said he cant talk about specific child welfare cases because of confidentiality laws. I didnt realize there was a significant problem. Many of the counties with very high removal rates have elevated poverty rates, but no direct correlation exists between poverty levels and child removal rates. The officer hung up, and the DSS worker called back and asked him to complete the report. She wasnt sure why that didnt happen in Addisons case, and privacy laws prevented her from discussing the details. The parents used intravenous drugs in the presence of their children and failed to provide adequate nutrition and hygiene, the indictments said. Additional information on reporting abuse. At the core of what Scott will be working on within the department is the philosophy of "maintain, not correct," he said. Almost every one of those studies says essentially the same thing; the recommendations are pretty much the same, Blevins told the committee. Volunteer for the HCCBG Advisory Committee! 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. But Shooters long and corrupt past at CCDSS caught up with her. 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. The questions asked are important to assure that all appropriate services are made available to the adult. 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. Such records are typically open to prosecutors, according toPeg Dorer, with the N.C. Conference of District Attorneys. Years before she died, she worked with departments of social services in multiple counties to arrange for Reeves mother to care for the older son. Pitt County is approximately 90 miles east of Raleigh NC with a population of 180,742. Many of the counties with very low rates or rates in the middle also experience poverty. Its just disturbing. Sampson County DSS has a budget of $12.8M and 150 employees serving across 3 divisions of programs: Adult, Child, and Family Services, Child Support, and Economic Programs and Services. An Associated Press investigation into Littlejohns death found social workers forged documents to cover their tracks after the girl died to show the visits had occurred when they in fact had not. But what to do with the 9-year-old girl? Some abuse is so heinous that workers are required to investigate immediately. 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. 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. A simple takeaway from the map is that the state has many counties at either end of the spectrum, far removed from the statewide average. He is earning a salary of $102,755.32, according to a public records request. With new equality rules coming down the pipe, many of us will most likely meet the Director. Blevins evaded, citing confidentiality rules. Post Office Box 7408. ), socially joined at the hip, high headed in their own mind educrats. For several months DSS did not produce confidential child welfare records for a criminal case after the DAs office sought them. Address: 40 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801, NC Department of Health and Human Services Police later claimed that they emailed information about the case to the Transylvania County Sheriffs Office. We would never support leaving a child in a hotel room with a stranger and 300 used needles, as a blanket statement, Blevins said Tuesday. Social Worker Investigative/Assessment and Treatment. Buncombe County Health & Human Services | NCDHHS So, they did. A CPP investigation nearly two years later found that the family had notified the Brevard Police Department. I didnt realize there was a significant problem. From these annual rates in each county and the state as a whole, CPP calculated an average yearly rate over the 10-year period, then compared each county to the state. Officers said they found drugs and needles on or near all of the adults, including uncapped hypodermic needles, marijuana and methamphetamine. A parents attorney could get a hold of these records and make an argument to have the kids returned home.. It is important to screen cases correctly, or agencies risk violating parents constitutional rights to raise their children. If you have any questions you may call or come into our office located at 35 Woodfin Street, Asheville, NC. Please join us! A good many are probably false or contain half-truths. Address: 40 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Most of the allegations CPP has received from families are nearly impossible to substantiate. No appointment is needed. Questions or comments? But when public officials do not abide by the laws, they take an oath to, to stand for, then our system is in trouble. By the officers account, the father told them to take her to a needle-infested hotel room and leave her with a man she did not know. Social workers are supposed to try to make these contacts regularly. At one point, we were having upwards of 400 babies a year born at Mission Hospital with illicit drugs in their system, Blevins said. Although Noyes had previously assisted in caring for her daughters children and remained willing to do so, DSS ultimately removed them instead and persuaded the court to place the children with their father. This report has not been officially confirmed, but my sources are reliable. With the support of readers like you, we provide thoughtfully researched articles for a more informed and connected community. On March 20, police in Black Mountain pulled over a car that was swerving over the white line. To accept the referral for Protective Services the information provided must state: This specific criteria is important because Protective Services unlike other services provided by Social Work Services is initiated without the consent of the adult. If the purpose of the record request is to protect a juvenile, then no court order would be needed, DePasquale told CPP. 2001 Mail Service Center 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. Select acountyon the mapto view phone numbers, websites, physical addressesand mailing addresses. But Reeves death was only part of the case. Sports:What's new with Memorial Stadium? 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. 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. During visitation with the family in 2014, they noticed marks on him, which led to a Department of Social Services investigation. 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. Must be able to type a minimum of 40 words per minute. This is your chance to support credible, community-based, public-service journalism. Your support funds important public interest journalism. Social workers removed children seized over a mark from a supposed beating, even though there was no evidence of the mark. One was located in a glove inside a door pocket, a police report says. The assessment includes evaluating six areas: During the course of the evaluation the Social Worker will talk with the adult, collaterals, and use whatever resources necessary to determine whether the adult is in need of protection. Officer had to use extreme caution due to the number of needles located.. The DSS worker called back and asked him to help complete the intake report. Buncombe County is basically my entire professional career at this point," Scott said. Burke County DSS . Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Department of Social Services. Most of the allegations CPP has received from families are nearly impossible to substantiate. When news organizations contact local departments of social services offices with questions about a specific case, the agencies are typically unable to discuss them. As a retired CPS SWS, calls from APD and BCSO, were immediately responded to as a professional courtesy. GPS Longitude:-82.548709. The DSS agent who had documented the abuse in foster care no longer worked there by this time. It was unclear whether photos documenting bruises were taken immediately or later, but they showed far less bruising than the family remembered seeing. Will Asheville City Soccer Club still play there? State Courier #: 12-50-02 The report says a social worker told police that DSS did not respond to these situations., Officers explained that the parent wanted to leave the girl with Stanley. The report says the DSS worker demanded multiple times to take a report over the phone. Human Resources - Buncombe County | Asheville NC Wrongful Termination and Breach of Contract!!! Trouble in Paradise for Sure!!! Over time, many families have contacted Carolina Public Press about child protective services concerns. I thought we were waiting for them to copy the records.. With the support of readers like you, we provide thoughtfully researched articles for a more informed and connected community. The server responded with {{status_text}} (code {{status_code}}). Buncombe DSS director won't comply with subpoena about 9-year - WLOS Editors note: This is part 2 of the four-part investigative series Patchwork Protection. Part 1 appeared June 7. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press, Blevins could not confirm or deny anything, died while under supervision by county DSS, 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. Confidentiality rules intended to protect children present challenges for investigating allegations of DSS misconduct. Meanwhile, Addisons birth family had no idea what had happened to him after removal from foster care. Report and copy of Lawsuit provided by Robert A. Williams, Cleveland County Republicans in Civil War!! Buncombe County's DSS office allocated $400,000 for extra clerical staff when it thought it would be required to use NC Fast's child welfare modules, but its current system has more features that child welfare workers need than NC Fast does, said Stoney Blevins, director of health and human services in Buncombe County. Veritas HHS 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. Choose a focus area. Carolina Public Press contributing reporter Christian Green also assisted with interviews for this article. What You Need To Know About Reducing Fraud. They are still considered the public in regard to this.. 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. If you cant answer because you dont know or you can answer because you refuse to under some other authority, Edwards said. 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. With the support of readers like you, we provide thoughtfully researched articles for a more informed and connected community. Graham County DSS Ms. Amy Seay, Director 196 Knight Street Post Office Box 1150 Robbinsville, NC 28771 Tel. Local County Department of Social Services (DSS) Offices - NCDHHS 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. No subpoena is necessary.. Food Assistance Medicaid Information Clinical Services Children Services Environmental Health Social Work Services News & Information National Black/African American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Buncombe director won't comply with subpoena about girl, hotel, needles Swanson is currently the Social Work Program Administrator for Buncombe County Health and Human Services where she provides . In 2020, police in Black Mountain pulled over a swerving car and arrested all three adults. In a Sept. 15 email to Edwards, Blevins said he would be honored to meet with the committee to talk and answer questions about our child welfare system. Bakers stepmother was already the subject of previous abuse findings. County Social Services Director - DSS Jobs NC County Social Services Director Work Type Directors and Program Managers Position Number 840201 Salary $98,812 - $156,171 Closing Date July 8, 2022 Posted June 9, 2022 Agency Name Social Services Work County Pitt Job Location 1717 West 5th Street Greenville North Carolina 27834 Job Description Not long afterward, he died of an overdose. There appeared to be no attempt by the police or DSS to follow up with the Sheriffs Office. 0:57. Forging contact records is not trivial. Lets start meeting and talking and get ready to kick these rats out. Once social workers take in a child, every interaction is supposed to be closely monitored. But the Sheriffs Office had no record of it. 0 miles away. I ended the phone call.. Over time, many families have contacted Carolina Public Press about child protective services concerns. In December 2022, just one month before he was appointed to the interim position on Jan. 25, Scott was promoted to assistant finance director. Director. 90,126. 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. Key Staff Polk County Health and Human Services Director: Joshua Kennedy. Blevins strongly disagreed with this last claim. 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. 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. They have anywhere from immediately to 72 hours to respond to the case, depending on the seriousness of the situation. 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. Jim Perry is so clueless: the purpose of an oversight committee is to provide oversight and rude. Buncombe County Social Service Department Suggest Edit Address 40 Coxe Avenue, # G Asheville , North Carolina , 28801 Phone 828-250-5500 Fax 828-255-5845 Hours Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-5:00 PM Map of Buncombe County Social Service Department View map of Buncombe County Social Service Department, and get driving directions from your location. In Buncombe County you can make a Protective Service referral or report by calling (828) 250-5800 anytime, day or night. They visit the parents, then write down what they say. Blevins had said the subpoena was unnecessary. In September 2016, a CPP investigation learned that the boy had been adopted within weeks of his mothers death. Maybe many others!! Catherine Noyes is a grandmother who expresses frustration over the Cabarrus County Department of Social Services and courts handling of her familys case. Didnt they care this girl was going to be left with someone she did not know? Your support funds important public interest journalism. 40 Coxe Avenue She was concerned the children could be injured if he attacked her. Legislators subpoena Buncombe official over DSS handling of childs case, Legislators grill Buncombe DSS director, who disputes Black Mountain cops, cites confidentiality rules, NC could look to other states for potential child welfare reforms, Governor signs bipartisan child welfare overhaul bill, 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. Customer Service Center:1-800-662-7030 Did you like this story? So, we fund a position to work at the hospital so that we can respond to these situations as soon as that baby is delivered. Its regretful there were some communications mishaps, said Cherokee County DSS Director Amanda McGee in a later interview on WKRK, a radio station in Murphy. Buncombe County Fire Marshall . Much to lawmakers chagrin,Blevins could not confirm or deny anythingin the police report due to strict laws protecting the privacy of the girl and her family.