buncombe county dss director

Think about this, This is Our Place Cleveland County ! 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. Address: 40 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801, NC Department of Health and Human Services 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. But the foster care residence was in unincorporated Transylvania County, not the city of Brevard. He told officers that he had met the girl for the first time that day and volunteered to watch her. Department of Social Services. State Sen. Chuck Edwards said during the hearing that police officers were told by a social worker to leave the . Phone: 828-250-5500 The DSS worker called back and asked him to help complete the intake report. Email her at imari.scarbrough@gmail.com. Strong confidentiality rules surround child protective services cases under both state and federal law, for the purpose of protecting the identity of the children. The allegations parents brought to CPP ranged widely: Social workers refused to screen in a case of extreme negligence involving meth-addicted parents despite repeated urging from a grandmother. A year ago, Buncombe County updated its policy, and social workers now respond to any law enforcement officers request for a social worker on the scene. Officers said they found drugs and needles on or near all of the adults, including uncapped hypodermic needles, marijuana and methamphetamine. The state and counties, which implement state and federal policies at a local level, need to commit to make the changes, he said. ASHEVILLE - Buncombe County's Public Health. Blevins evaded, citing confidentiality rules. Does the child feel safe? The Purpose of Buncombe County Health and Human Services is to strengthen our communities by advancing health, safety, and opportunity. Blevins had said the subpoena was unnecessary. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press Their stories were often shocking and always emotional. Stacie Saunders, Buncombe County's public health director, who is leaving her position at the end of the year for a state government role. 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. 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. 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. 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. This is your chance to support credible, community-based, public-service journalism. But even in some of these cases, legal counsel may ultimately advise them not to discuss the situation further. Part 1:Protection of NC children, families depends on the county, Part 3:Structure of NC child protective services leads to inequity, Part 4:NC could look to other states for potential child welfare reforms, Indicted former director resigns from DSS position, cant work for county again, Governor signs bipartisan child welfare overhaul bill, ByKate Martin,Frank TaylorandImari Scarbrough. Thank you! The DSS worker said we could leave the child in the room, but she hopes we would not do that, the report says. Granville County DSS 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. Many of the counties with very low rates or rates in the middle also experience poverty. Graham County DSS Ms. Amy Seay, Director 196 Knight Street Post Office Box 1150 Robbinsville, NC 28771 Tel. 404 Social Services jobs available in Buncombe County, NC on Indeed.com. Shooter is not expected to last very long. Are new people living there? Social workers are supposed to try to make these contacts regularly. 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. Did you know that there is a law that was enacted in 1975 to protect disabled adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation? 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. Thank you for serving our children. Once a referral is taken for Protective Services, a Social Worker will be assigned the case. Your email address will not be published. Blevins said he cant talk about specific child welfare cases because of confidentiality laws. Government, Non-Profit and Other Non-Profit Organizations Individual and Family Social Services Social Service and Welfare . In a case of suspected abuse in a foster care setting, DSS is obligated to notify law enforcement. Address: 40 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 Customer Service Center:1-800-662-7030 I predict that in short time, if you dont agree with the CCS system which marches in step with Their Federal heros diversity bullshit, that DDS will take you to court. As an agency that works with parents experiencing substance use disorder and children exposed to multiple dangers every day, our agency would never give that guidance.. You guys are highly under-appreciated!! She told the police she wanted to go home. 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. After children return to the home, social workers stay in touch to make sure they are safe. The largest concentration of counties that are removing children at high or very high rates are in the western mountain counties, though a smaller cluster also exists in the southeastern counties, and a few other exceptions are scattered across the map. A good many are probably false or contain half-truths. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Please join us! Closing Date. The programs are housed in three separate locations. Taking a child from a parent is considered a last resort and is usually done to prevent imminent harm or maltreatment of a child. The City of Greenville is the county seat. Its just disturbing. Reporting like this isnt free to produce and we cannot do this alone. Edwards said he has been unable to get straight answers out of Blevins even after a conversation. 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. As a result, the family said, the statute of limitations had expired, and no one could be charged two years later. The legal direction is that information cant be shared before the House or Senate, Govus said. They are still considered the public in regard to this.. Wrongful Termination and Breach of Contract!!! This project was produced for the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalisms 2020 Data Fellowship. Volunteer for the HCCBG Advisory Committee! Even without names or narratives, the overall data from the last decade points to locations in the state where removals of children have occurred far above or far below the statewide average. Is everyone healthy and is there enough food? Thats all Im going to say, best leave before I get upset. A year ago, Buncombe County updated its policy, and social workers now respond to any law enforcement officers request for a social worker on the scene. I didnt realize there was a significant problem. To learn more, view our full privacy policy. While Blevins was able to speak to the accuracy, or lack thereof, in a Black Mountain police report regarding the case, he skirted the details known to him and his social workers because state law requires a judges ruling to give specifics of a confidential case, he told lawmakers. If a judge releases the record, the judge can release a record to whatever parties they choose to, Blevins said. Buncombe County DSS Mr. Stoney Blevins, Director 828-250-5588. Director. 0 miles away . A week later, the mother of two was found dead in a New Jersey motel room. 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. In December 2022, just one month before he was appointed to the interim position on Jan. 25, Scott was promoted to assistant finance director. Agency Name. The questions asked are important to assure that all appropriate services are made available to the adult. They visit the parents, then write down what they say. In the bathroom there was a plastic container nearly full of used needles, the police report says. 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. Reeves family said she had lived in fear for her life because of attacks from her ex-husband Titus Boley, who had served a prison sentence for assaulting her. 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. 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. To learn more, view our full privacy policy. In addition, the intake procedures can be arduous, and repetitive questions can fluster those reporting suspected child maltreatment. For instance, he said, he can think of at least three studies of the child welfare system, in addition to federal reviews and several other legislative-level studies. She died during the winter, wearing only a T-shirt and her diaper. But this left the question for the officers of how to help the girl, they said. 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. Social Work Services The experience is typically traumatic and humiliating. It was unclear whether photos documenting bruises were taken immediately or later, but they showed far less bruising than the family remembered seeing. Then, using the child population of each county during the year in question, reporters calculated the percentage of children removed in a given year. The parents used intravenous drugs in the presence of their children and failed to provide adequate nutrition and hygiene, the indictments said. Must be able to type a minimum of 40 words per minute. Buncombe County DSS has since changed its procedures, Blevins told Carolina Public Press last month. 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. With the support of readers like you, we provide thoughtfully researched articles for a more informed and connected community. 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. Some of them are likely true. Buncombe County Health Department . 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. The North Carolina General Assembly meets in the State Legislative Building in Raleigh, seen here in Feb. 2018. GPS Longitude:-82.548709. The Magazine Basic Theme by bavotasan.com. And some economically advantaged counties may also cluster with high or low removal rates. A tangible sign of those things are the yearly audit, which Scott said he hopes will show no findings. Noyes said she continues to work with her daughter to regain custody of the children but has become disappointed by the process. #828-479-7911 Fax #828-479-7928 Courier Number: 08-40-02. The 2020 Elections can put an end to that. Key Staff Polk County Health and Human Services Director: Joshua Kennedy. This will reduce capacity to one active hopper and operational delays should be expected. Buncombe County Fire Marshall . If the purpose of the record request is to protect a juvenile, then no court order would be needed, DePasquale told CPP. 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. 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. Another Lawsuit Filed Against Cleveland Community College Board of Trustees!!! Required fields are marked *. Our staff is committed to providing Buncombe's diverse population with effective services in a timely and respectful manner. Henderson County residentFelicia Reevesdisappeared in August 2015. But the grandmother said she could not care for Addison, Reeves younger child, at that time. 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, COVID-19 Information for Local Social Services Agencies. Apply to Engagement Director, Director of Admissions, Human Resources Specialist and more! Your support funds important public interest journalism. People who lose their children or are unsuccessful in having children removed from the home of a troubled family member are not happy about these outcomes. And some economically advantaged counties may also cluster with high or low removal rates. 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. 2001 Mail Service Center But the grandmother said she could not care for Addison, Reeves younger child, at that time. If we need to talk specifics, all I would ask is that we take the appropriate legal steps so that I can talk to you freely without violating the law that I took an oath to uphold.. 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. 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, The Home and Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee. Fax Number: 828-250-6341 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. 90,126. The DSS Director reports directly to the Board of Social Services and reports indirectly to the County Manager's Office. After children return to the home, social workers stay in touch to make sure they are safe. New Jersey officials ruled the case a suicide, but a Carolina Public Press investigation identified problems with this explanation that have never been resolved. Social workers removed children seized over a mark from a supposed beating, even though there was no evidence of the mark. 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 Countys DSS for help with a 9-year-old girl after arresting her father. Kate Martin is lead investigative reporter for Carolina Public Press. I can understand why a lot of people give up and stop fighting because, one, youre fighting a hard system, and two, you cant afford it, she said. Provides receptionist duties at times to Central Clerical. Emergency Phone: 828-250-5500Website, Administrative Assistant: Christa Lance,828-250-5587, Business Officer/ Fiscal/Performance Manager: Lisa White,828-250-5802, Operation Manager: Leigh Anderson,828-250-5575, Economic Services Division Director: Phillip Hardin,828-250-5592, Social Work Services Division Director/Foster Care & Adoptions Program Administrator: Rebecca Smith,828-250-5764, Permanency Planning: Amber Cook, 828-250-5824, CPS Intake/Investigations: Sherrie Thomas, 828-250-5843 ; Trina Hill, 828-250-5249, Licensing & Adoptions: Lizzi Shimer, 828-250-5277, Adult Services: Jennifer Teague, 828-250-5198, Quality Assurance, Program Administrator: Kelli Buckner,828-250-5987, Quality Assurance, Social Work Performance Standards: Alison Mann,828-250-5788, Family & Adult Medicaid Program Administrator: Ian Allen,828-250-5628, FNS/Program Integrity/Community Resources: Patricia Wallin,828-250-5689, FNS/Technical Support/Training: Denise Lancaster,828-250-5639, Child Support Enforcement: CPP then mapped these comparison percentages, marking distinctly those at the extremes. Please join us! Then, using the child population of each county during the year in question, reporters calculated the percentage of children removed in a given year. No appointment is needed. 1,900+ former CCS Students 19-22 years old-Set for Failure-Right Now!!! "Another thing I hope to maintain is a high level of quality, even though we do look at a high volume of activity each year.". CPPs news team analyzed data on child removals across North Carolina during the decade from 2010-19. Monday - Friday 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: The General Assembly called Buncombe County Health and Human Services DirectorStoney Blevinsto testify about the incident. But what to do with the 9-year-old girl? Police arrested all three adults after saying they found drugs and used needles, according to the report. Noyes questions, among other things, why the children were placed with him rather than her and why his substance abuse issues were not adequately investigated by DSS. Are new people living there? P.O. Required fields are marked *. Blevins strongly disagreed with this last claim. Asheville, NC 28801 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. 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. I ended the phone call.. Social Worker Buncombe Family and Children's Services Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. Thank you! Zahra Baker was a native of Australia who lived in Catawba County with her father and stepmother. Reeves family said she had lived in fear for her life because of attacks from her ex-husbandTitus Boley, who had served a prison sentence for assaulting her. 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.