buncombe county dss director

Contact him at RCSmith@gannett.com or 828-274-2222. 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. F. (828) 250-6235. Her school reported abuse, and multiple social workers visited the family. The intake process can take a while, as it requires people who report abuse to answer many questions. Officers told her they might take him to jail and sarcastically asked if he should leave the girl alone in the hotel room. A later independent investigation into Moore Countys Department of Social Services revealed that overworked caseworkers did not visit the mother as they were supposed to, and the department did not properly supervise its caseworkers to ensure they followed state law and policy, according to the Fayetteville Observer. Food Network's 'Spring Baking Championship' to feature WNC pastry chef, After first clean audit in 4 years, Buncombe County again has 'significant deficiency', Buncombe County Commissioners discuss affordable housing, cryptocurrency, finances, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He is earning a salary of $102,755.32, according to a public records request. Upcoming articles in this series will examine the systemic problems that create challenges for child protective services in North Carolina and potential solutions. With the support of readers like you, we provide thoughtfully researched articles for a more informed and connected community. 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. Im so disgusted with the system. If you want to help us spread the word about signs of abuse, self-neglect or exploitation of elder adults or adults with disabilities, please consider hanging this poster somewhere in your community. 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. The DSS worker called back and asked him to help complete the intake report. And so Im not sure we need a (new) law. Meanwhile, Addisons birth family had no idea what had happened to him after removal from foster care. The Purpose of Buncombe County Health and Human Services is to strengthen our communities by advancing health, safety, and opportunity. The area is home to East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine and Vidant Medical Center. Do you have concerns about a disabled adult who is either living in the community or in a licensed facility? 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. Post Office Box 7408. The DSS Director reports directly to the Board of Social Services and reports indirectly to the County Manager's Office. 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. Buncombe County Health & Human Services Address: 40 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801 P.O. CPP then mapped these comparison percentages, marking distinctly those at the extremes. With the support of readers like you, we provide thoughtfully researched articles for a more informed and connected community. Select a county on the map to view phone numbers, websites, physical addresses and mailing addresses. 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. Police later claimed that they emailed information about the case to the Transylvania County Sheriffs Office. CPPs news team analyzed data on child removals across North Carolina during the decade from 2010-19. 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. Buncombe County spokeswoman Lillian Govus said unless the subpoena is from a judge, Blevins couldnt testify about the particulars even if the meeting is behind closed doors. But it took years for one young child to disclose what happened to her in the home. Inside were three adults and a 9-year-old girl, the police report of the traffic stop says. Asheville, NC 28802 12. At one point, we were having upwards of 400 babies a year born at Mission Hospital with illicit drugs in their system, Blevins said. 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 laterindependent investigationinto Moore Countys Department of Social Services revealed that overworked caseworkers did not visit the mother as they were supposed to, and the department did not properly supervise its caseworkers to ensure they followed state law and policy, according to the Fayetteville Observer. Reporting like this isnt free to produce and we cannot do this alone. They may think the system has wronged their families. A horrific child sex abuse case in Cherokee County two years ago included a puzzling delay by DSS officials in cooperating with prosecutors. 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. {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. And then we seem surprised when it fails. Choose a focus area. Response times to child welfare reports vary depending on how much risk the child is in. A decade ago in Swain County, 15-month-old Aubrey Kina-Marie Littlejohn died while under supervision by county DSS. Carolina Public Press provides in-depth, investigative reporting on issues affecting Western North Carolina in a nonprofit, nonpartisan setting. Sports:What's new with Memorial Stadium? But others include the major Piedmont metro areas, which have some of the highest populations. Although she filed a complaint, she said it was not taken seriously. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Visit RelayNCfor information about TTY services. I mean you cant get back the last couple years of these little children, you know.. Secure websites use HTTPS certificates. Key Staff Polk County Health and Human Services Director: Joshua Kennedy. 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. 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. As a result, the family said, the statute of limitations had expired, and no one could be charged two years later. With the support of readers like you, we provide thoughtfully researched articles for a more informed and connected community. Carolina Public Press provides in-depth, investigative reporting on issues affecting Western North Carolina in a nonprofit, nonpartisan setting. The General Assembly called Buncombe County Health and Human Services Director Stoney Blevins to testify about the incident. Reporting like this isnt free to produce and we cannot do this alone. 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. 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. A week later, the mother of two was found dead in a New Jersey motel room. Your email address will not be published. LE afforded BCDSS the same courtesy. 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. Over time, many families have contacted Carolina Public Press about child protective services concerns. Sources report that the Cleveland County Commissioners have selected Katie Swanson from the Buncombe County DSS as the Director of the Cleveland County DSS. 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. Apply to Engagement Director, Director of Admissions, Human Resources Specialist and more! A Social Worker is responsible for assessment of the situation and determining the need for protection. Asheville, NC 28802 12. 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. Edwards said he has been unable to get straight answers out of Blevins even after a conversation. Raleigh, NC 27699-2000. Buncombe County DSS Mr. Stoney Blevins, Director 828-250-5588. Questions or comments? Cheri Wood, 828-250-6340 Blevins evaded, citing confidentiality rules. Blevins confirmed he will show up to talk with legislators once he receives the subpoena. The legal direction is that information cant be shared before the House or Senate, Govus said. CPP is not naming the adults because naming them could identify the young children. (Health and Human Services) is a creation of this body, the fine men and women who were here long before me, and the only purpose of having an oversight committee is to provide oversight.. 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. Although she filed a complaint, she said it was not taken seriously. Social workers are supposed to try to make these contacts regularly. Blevins had said the subpoena was unnecessary. In December 2022, just one month before he was appointed to the interim position on Jan. 25, Scott was promoted to assistant finance director. Social Worker Investigative/Assessment and Treatment. Officers located needles on the beds, the nightstands, TV stand and the bathroom. Government, Non-Profit and Other Non-Profit Organizations Individual and Family Social Services Social Service and Welfare . The General Assembly called Buncombe County Health and Human Services DirectorStoney Blevinsto testify about the incident. 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. At the close of the hearing, Sen. Edwards asked Blevins if the same DSS worker handled both calls from the Black Mountain Police Department. 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. Your email address will not be published. . Then, using the child population of each county during the year in question, reporters calculated the percentage of children removed in a given year. Don Warn, 53, who was the Buncombe County finance director since November 2018, recently left Buncombe County to go to Guilford County, where he started on Feb. 13, according to a Guilford County news release. The boys death spurred lawmakers to action, and the General Assembly approved a package of major reforms with strong bipartisan support. I thought we were waiting for them to copy the records.. 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. The DSS worker called back and asked him to help complete the intake report. And some economically advantaged counties may also cluster with high or low removal rates. Other cases require that they respond within 24 or 72 hours. Monday - Friday 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. pigella miraculous ladybug power. The district attorneys office decided that the evidence justified charges of misdemeanor child abuse, but not a felony. If you cant answer because you dont know or you can answer because you refuse to under some other authority, Edwards said. 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. BUNCOMBE COUNTY - IM CASEWORKER II VARIOUS PROGRAMS - OPEN UNTIL FILLED DURHAM COUNTY - ASST. 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. The 2020 Elections can put an end to that. But sometimes social workers fudge. Thank you! In September 2016, a CPP investigation learned that the boy had been adopted within weeks of his mothers death. Secure websites use HTTPS certificates. Your email address will not be published. 40 Coxe Avenue 0:57. 39. The district attorneys office decided that the evidence justified charges of misdemeanor child abuse, but not a felony. 2001 Mail Service Center CPP then mapped these comparison percentages, marking distinctly those at the extremes. 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. 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. Didnt they care this girl was going to be left with someone she did not know? Time and again, though, lawmakers tried to turn the conversation back toward the specific case. Not long afterward, he died of an overdose. Must be able to type a minimum of 40 words per minute. Her trailer had no heat, according to statements to law enforcement. Forging contact records is not trivial. Social Worker Buncombe Family and Children's Services She told the police she wanted to go home. Or a family who had contacted CPP initially might not be able to talk now because of a settlement that included a nondisclosure agreement. Don Warn, 53, who was the Buncombe County finance director since November 2018, recently left Buncombe County to go to Guilford County, where he started on Feb. 13, according to a. 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. 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. Customer Service Center:1-800-662-7030 Contact him at ftaylor@carolinapublicpress.org. Police had pulled over a driver who was swerving over the white line. 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. For several months DSS did not produce confidential child welfare records for a criminal case after the DAs office sought them. 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. A horrific child sex abuse case in Cherokee County two years ago included apuzzling delayby DSS officials in cooperating with prosecutors. Blevins challenged the accuracy of a Black Mountain Police Departments report that had led to the request for him to appear before legislators. Once social workers take in a child, every interaction is supposed to be closely monitored. Many of the counties with very low rates or rates in the middle also experience poverty. 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.. County Director of Social Services August 1, 2022 / DSS Jobs NC. 39. Thats all Im going to say, best leave before I get upset. Asheville, NC 28802 Graham County DSS Ms. Amy Seay, Director 196 Knight Street Post Office Box 1150 Robbinsville, NC 28771 Tel. Catherine Noyes is a grandmother who expresses frustration over the Cabarrus County Department of Social Services and courts handling of her familys case.