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. Buncombe County Health & Human Services | NCDHHS Asheville, NC 28802 12. Burke County DSS . Each countys average annual removal rate, compared with the states annual removal rate, was calculated as a percentage of the states rate. Court records from the case show that the judge recognized the ultimate goal of reuniting the boy with his family when possible, and while the fathers rights had been terminated, Reeves rights were intact. But what to do with the 9-year-old girl? For several months DSS did not produce confidential child welfare records for a criminal case after the DAs office sought them. Blevins confirmed he will show up to talk with legislators once he receives the subpoena. 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. New DSS Director Selected-Katie Swanson from Buncombe County!! CCDSS I can promise you, I would be better served to speak to you about the things youre asking me, Blevins said. Are new people living there? Director. Once social workers take in a child, every interaction is supposed to be closely monitored. But when public officials do not abide by the laws, they take an oath to, to stand for, then our system is in trouble. The DSS Director works with the Social Services Advisory Board and reports directly to the County Manager's Office acting on behalf of the Board of Commissioners. Some lawmakers were incensed. Social Worker Buncombe Family and Children's Services 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. 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. Officers located needles on the beds, the nightstands, TV stand and the bathroom. Job Contact. Your email address will not be published. But the foster care residence was in unincorporated Transylvania County, not the city of Brevard. Throughout last weeks hearing, Blevins explained the delicate balance of preserving parental rights while ensuring children are cared for. But Zahra was never removed from the family. 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. Polk County Department of Social Services. But what to do with the 9-year-old girl? 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. If it is an emergency, an on-call social worker is available after regular business hours and weekends. Pitt County is approximately 90 miles east of Raleigh NC with a population of 180,742. Buncombe County DSS has since changed its procedures, Blevins told Carolina Public Press last month. I apologize that I cant answer, Blevins said. Please join us! "The county is in a strong financial position, so I think it makes the work that we do easier.". 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. 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. Police arrested all three adults after saying they found drugs and used needles, according to the report. Their stories were often shocking and always emotional. The legal direction is that information cant be shared before the House or Senate, Govus said. 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. Salary. This project was produced for the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalisms 2020 Data Fellowship. Learn More{{/message}}. Henderson County residentFelicia Reevesdisappeared in August 2015. 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. The parents used intravenous drugs in the presence of their children and failed to provide adequate nutrition and hygiene, the indictments said. The DSS worker called back and asked him to help complete the intake report. 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. 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. Department of Social Services. Thank you! All Rights Reserved. Thank you! On March 20, police in Black Mountain pulled over a car that was swerving over the white line. Social workers are supposed to try to make these contacts regularly. 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! Learn More{{/message}}, {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}It appears your submission was successful. When news organizations contact local departments of social services offices with questions about a specific case, the agencies are typically unable to discuss them. The School Board works for me. Meanwhile, Addisons birth family had no idea what had happened to him after removal from foster care. The DSS agent who had documented the abuse in foster care no longer worked there by this time. Carolina Public Press provides in-depth, investigative reporting on issues affecting Western North Carolina in a nonprofit, nonpartisan setting. Tracy Jones, who was DSS director in Transylvania County in 2016 but not during the time of the foster care abuse allegation, told CPP that the agencys procedure during an adoption is always to notify the next of kin first. She died during the winter, wearing only a T-shirt and her diaper. In 2020, police in Black Mountain pulled over a swerving car and arrested all three adults. Report and History Lesson by Robert A. Williams . 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. The North Carolina General Assembly meets in the State Legislative Building in Raleigh, seen here in Feb. 2018. But Reeves death was only part of the case. Will Asheville City Soccer Club still play there? A tangible sign of those things are the yearly audit, which Scott said he hopes will show no findings. New Jersey officials ruled the case a suicide, but a Carolina Public Press investigation identifiedproblems with this explanationthat have never been resolved. After children return to the home, social workers stay in touch to make sure they are safe. 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. DSS Director - DSS Jobs NC Scott began his career in the Planning Department before moving to the county's IT Department as a business officer, a Buncombe County news release said. At other times, however, DSS agencies have cited confidentiality rules as reasons for not responding to questions about their general procedures and policies that require no identifying information about individual children and families. But the grandmother said she could not care for Addison, Reeves younger child, at that time. Additional Information Performs other duties as assigned by the Supervisor, the Income Maintenance Administrator and the Director. At one point, Noyes believed that an employee of DSS had an inappropriate previous professional relationship with a judge who handled the case. Learn More{{/message}}. 0:57. New DSS Director Selected-Katie Swanson from Buncombe County!! Social Worker Investigative/Assessment and Treatment. Prosecutors filed additional charges, including incest, aiding and abetting incest, child prostitution and other felony sex offenses involving multiple close relatives. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Stay up to date with the most current information. Blevins said confidentiality laws, as well as state rules surrounding personnel information, prevent him from saying more without a judges intervention. Social workers are supposed to try to make these contacts regularly. Over time, many families have contacted Carolina Public Press about child protective services concerns. Copyright 2023 Citizens For Good Government. Then, using the child population of each county during the year in question, reporters calculated the percentage of children removed in a given year. I thought we were waiting for them to copy the records.. Editors note: This is part 2 of the four-part investigative series Patchwork Protection. Part 1 appeared June 7. Printable DSS Directory 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. [This story was originally published by Carolina Public Press.]. Email her at kmartin@carolinapublicpress.org. buncombe county dss director - Dialectic.solutions Why didnt DSS show up on the scene? 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. Strong confidentiality rules surround child protective services cases under both state and federal law, for the purpose of protecting the identity of the children. For several months DSS did not produce confidential child welfare records for a criminal case after the DAs office sought them. Some families accused DSS staff of generally playing God with peoples lives and acting in a conspiratorial manner. Sen. Jim Perry pushed back at the notion of blanket confidentiality. Sports:What's new with Memorial Stadium? 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. Hey, look around, look around, are Our Schools working ? Learn More{{/message}}, {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}It appears your submission was successful. Her school reported abuse, and multiple social workers visited the family. As a result, the family said, the statute of limitations had expired, and no one could be charged two years later. 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. Protection of the Abused, Neglected or Exploited Disabled Adult Act is located under Statute 108A Article 6. Kate Martin is lead investigative reporter for Carolina Public Press. "What I have really appreciated lately is the internal support function," he said. Im so disgusted with the system. Her trailer had no heat, according to statements to law enforcement. Related:After first clean audit in 4 years, Buncombe County again has 'significant deficiency', County Government:Buncombe County Commissioners discuss affordable housing, cryptocurrency, finances, "We can never really know what a particular environment will look like in any given year, but I lean to those relationships, so maintaining trust and communication both within and outside the organization," he said. The Purpose of Buncombe County Health and Human Services is to strengthen our communities by advancing health, safety, and opportunity.