buncombe county dss director

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. Asheville, NC 28802 12. Mason Scott, 34, was hand-picked by Warn as his temporary successor. This statute was initiated to protect the increasing number of disabled adults in North Carolina who are being abused, neglected or exploited. 40 Coxe Avenue Officers said that the father told them they could leave the girl in a hotel room with a man named Spencer, but when asked, the girl told police that his name was actually Stanley, she didnt know his last name and she wanted to go home. He helped implement Workday, the county's primary financial accounting system, in 2017, then formally joined the Finance Department in 2019 as a financial planning and analysis manager. A Social Worker is responsible for assessment of the situation and determining the need for protection. He told officers that he had met the girl for the first time that day and volunteered to watch her. Blevins had said the subpoena was unnecessary. New Jersey officials ruled the case a suicide, but a Carolina Public Press investigation identifiedproblems with this explanationthat have never been resolved. 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. And yet, I do not see proof that weve implemented the plans that have been made.. 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: Sports:What's new with Memorial Stadium? With the support of readers like you, we provide thoughtfully researched articles for a more informed and connected community. He answered legislators questions about generic procedures but drew the line when asked about the specific case. 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. Hey, look around, look around, are Our Schools working ? Forging contact records is not trivial. Legislators in the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services voted 15-8 along party lines Tuesday in favor of subpoenaing Buncombe Health and Human Services Director Stoney Blevins, with Republicans in favor and Democrats against. Please join us! The server responded with {{status_text}} (code {{status_code}}). 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. She died in 2010, and her stepmother was eventually charged in her murder. The three main program areas are Economic Services Programs, Social Work Programs, and Family Support Services. There were needles under the seats and in the door pockets of the car. Some families accused DSS staff of generally playing God with peoples lives and acting in a conspiratorial manner. Phone: 828-250-5500 Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. These records are tied into funding. A judge granted the request. 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. Please join us! CPP is not naming the adults because naming them could identify the young children. Please help support this type of journalism with asubscriptionto the Citizen Times. 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. Stories Recount Concerns With DSS Agencies Across North Carolina Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. There appeared to be no attempt by the police or DSS to follow up with the Sheriffs Office. The boys death spurred lawmakers to action, and the General Assembly approved a package of major reforms with strong bipartisan support. Officers then called Buncombe County HHS. Why didnt DSS show up on the scene? 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. Would love your thoughts, please comment. The Purpose of Buncombe County Health and Human Services is to strengthen our communities by advancing health, safety, and opportunity. Adoptions in North Carolina cannot be reversed. Its just disturbing. In the upcoming election we can kick out this majority fool board. 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. The Director is responsible for a budget of over $350 million dollars including Medicaid and Food Stamp benefits and slightly over 300 employees. Social workers removed children seized over a mark from a supposed beating, even though there was no evidence of the mark. She died in 2010, and her stepmother was eventually charged in her murder. Henderson County residentFelicia Reevesdisappeared in August 2015. There appeared to be no attempt by the police or DSS to follow up with the Sheriffs Office. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. The officer hung up, and the DSS worker called back and asked him to complete the report. Buncombe County Solid Waste is . Kate Martin is lead investigative reporter for Carolina Public Press. Sen. Ralph Hise similarly said he disagreed with Blevins assertion that he couldnt talk about the case and asserted that the General Assembly did not need permission from the judicial branch to do its job. We can fix OUR Schools. 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. 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. Policy choices are made by individuals, though geographical isolation and limited resources may promote decisions in some areas of the state more than others. Such situations include when the only parent of a child is being arrested and is thus not able to plan for another adult to care for the child. County Director of Social Services - DSS Jobs NC Buncombe County Finance Office gets new interim director "The county is in a strong financial position, so I think it makes the work that we do easier.". 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. Closing Date. County Director of Social Services Work Type. County Social Services Director - DSS Jobs NC 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. Do you have concerns about a disabled adult who is either living in the community or in a licensed facility? A CPP investigation nearly two years later found that the family had notified the Brevard Police Department. The successful candidate has a history of collaborating with staff, the local community and state partners to create stronger families, safer communities, and a better future for those they serve. Carolina Public Press provides in-depth, investigative reporting on issues affecting Western North Carolina in a nonprofit, nonpartisan setting. Email her at kmartin@carolinapublicpress.org. State Sen. Chuck Edwards said during the hearing that police officers were told by a social worker to leave the . 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. Swanson is currently the Social Work Program Administrator for Buncombe County Health and Human Services where she provides . Buncombe County DSS Mr. Stoney Blevins, Director 828-250-5588. Throughout last weeks hearing, Blevins explained the delicate balance of preserving parental rights while ensuring children are cared for. Catherine Noyes is a grandmother who expresses frustration over the Cabarrus County Department of Social Services and courts handling of her familys case. Learn More{{/message}}. 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. Im so disgusted with the system. 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. If the purpose of the record request is to protect a juvenile, then no court order would be needed, DePasquale told CPP. No subpoena is necessary.. The North Carolina General Assembly meets in the State Legislative Building in Raleigh, seen here in Feb. 2018. Police had pulled over a driver who was swerving over the white line. State Courier #: 12-50-02 Upcoming articles in this series will examine the systemic problems that create challenges for child protective services in North Carolina and potential solutions. Our staff is committed to providing Buncombe's diverse population with effective services in a timely and respectful manner. Henderson County resident Felicia Reeves disappeared in August 2015. Volunteer for the HCCBG Advisory Committee! 0 miles away . Visit RelayNCfor information about TTY services. Cheri Wood, 828-250-6340 Buncombe County Employee Directories are records of the contact details for government staff in Buncombe County, North Carolina. From CPP: Legislators subpoena Buncombe official over DSS handling of No appointment is needed. I had this conversation with (Sen. Chuck Edwards) the very first day we spoke in April, Blevins said. The Purpose of Buncombe County Health and Human Services is to strengthen our communities by advancing health, safety, and opportunity. ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) An attorney for Buncombe County Health and Human Services said in a letter director Talmadge "Stoney" Blevins would not comply with a subpoena about a case involving a 9 . 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. Although she filed a complaint, she said it was not taken seriously. I thought we were waiting for them to copy the records.. 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. Adults Protective Services: DSS - Buncombe County | Asheville Post Office Box 7408. Police later claimed that they emailed information about the case to the Transylvania County Sheriffs Office. Buncombe County DSS Mr. Stoney Blevins, Director 828-250-5588. Some families accused DSS staff of generally playing God with peoples lives and acting in a conspiratorial manner. 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. A tangible sign of those things are the yearly audit, which Scott said he hopes will show no findings. In 2016,Rylan Ott, nearly 2 years old, wandered from his Carthage home and drowned in a pond. 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. Did you like this story? Your support funds important public interest journalism. What You Need To Know About Reducing Fraud. When CPP brought the case to the attention of deputies in 2016, they conducted an investigation. {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. CPP then mapped these comparison percentages, marking distinctly those at the extremes. 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. Office Assistant III-FNS - DSS Jobs NC 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. The case made international headlines over the following months, focusing a world spotlight on the total failure of the child protection system in her case. 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. 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. She told the police she wanted to go home. 40 Coxe Avenue. 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. Customer Service Center:1-800-662-7030 Thank you for serving our children. One was located in a glove inside a door pocket, a police report says. 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. Social workers removed him from the foster care setting, but the family remained unclear about what happened to him next, they told CPP. The purpose of intake questions is to determine how urgently a case needs the governments attention. If you have any questions you may call or come into our office located at 35 Woodfin Street, Asheville, NC. Copyright 2023 Citizens For Good Government. County has new DSS director - Shelby Star 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. Monday - Friday Your email address will not be published. Does the child feel safe? Upcoming articles in this series will examine the systemic problems that create challenges for child protective services in North Carolina and potential solutions. Stay up to date with the most current information. Granville County DSS If you have an update to county agency information, please email dssweb@dhhs.nc.gov. P. (828) 250-5500 Your email address will not be published. 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. It is important to screen cases correctly, or agencies risk violating parents constitutional rights to raise their children. Social Worker Investigative/Assessment and Treatment. All Rights Reserved. Once social workers take in a child, every interaction is supposed to be closely monitored. With the support of readers like you, we provide thoughtfully researched articles for a more informed and connected community. 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.. Reporting like this isnt free to produce and we cannot do this alone. But Shooters long and corrupt past at CCDSS caught up with her. 0:57. 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. 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. Raleigh, NC 27699-2000. (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.. 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. 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. Officer had to use extreme caution due to the number of needles located.. This is your chance to support credible, community-based, public-service journalism. New DSS Director Selected-Katie Swanson from Buncombe County!! I apologize that I cant answer, Blevins said. She died during the winter, wearing only a T-shirt and her diaper. 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. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. 39. Editors note: This is part 2 of the four-part investigative series Patchwork Protection. Part 1 appeared June 7. Blevins said he cant talk about specific child welfare cases because of confidentiality laws. 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. Did you know that there is a law that was enacted in 1975 to protect disabled adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation? 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. Kate Martin is lead investigative reporter for Carolina Public Press. ASHEVILLE - Buncombe County's Public Health. Editors note: This is part 2 of the four-part investigative series Patchwork Protection. Part 1 appeared June 7. Thats all Im going to say, best leave before I get upset. Veritas HHS Some of them are likely true. 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. Her school reported abuse, and multiple social workers visited the family. I ended the phone call.. This report has not been officially confirmed, but my sources are reliable. 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. Questions or comments? CPPs news team analyzed data on child removals across North Carolina during the decade from 2010-19. Additional information on reporting abuse. 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. To learn more, view our full privacy policy. Much like 911 operators, DSS workers ask specific questions when taking information on a new case, called intake, he explained. But the grandmother said she could not care for Addison, Reeves younger child, at that time. 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. A grand jury first indicted the mother for neglect in 2015. I mean you cant get back the last couple years of these little children, you know.. Select acountyon the mapto view phone numbers, websites, physical addressesand mailing addresses. Thank you! Police later claimed that they emailed information about the case to the Transylvania County Sheriffs Office. In the bathroom there was a plastic container nearly full of used needles, the police report says. Then, using the child population of each county during the year in question, reporters calculated the percentage of children removed in a given year. This will reduce capacity to one active hopper and operational delays should be expected. 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. The North Carolina General Assembly meets in the State Legislative Building in Raleigh, seen here in Feb. 2018. Even after all the insider wheeling and dealing that made her the Interim Director to begin with. Time and again, though, lawmakers tried to turn the conversation back toward the specific case. ), socially joined at the hip, high headed in their own mind educrats. Franklin. 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. Didnt they care this girl was going to be left with someone she did not know? In Buncombe County you can make a Protective Service referral or report by calling (828) 250-5800 anytime, day or night. The Cleveland County Department of Social Services has a new director. The intake process can take a while, as it requires people who report abuse to answer many questions. These records are tied into funding. If a judge releases the record, the judge can release a record to whatever parties they choose to, Blevins said. 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. #828-479-7911 Fax #828-479-7928 Courier Number: 08-40-02. Such records are typically open to prosecutors, according toPeg Dorer, with the N.C. Conference of District Attorneys. To learn more, view our full privacy policy. I ended the phone call.. County Vacancy Announcements - NCACDSS Learn More{{/message}}, {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}It appears your submission was successful. 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. Select a county on the map to view phone numbers, websites, physical addresses and mailing addresses. The area is home to East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine and Vidant Medical Center. Or a family who had contacted CPP initially might not be able to talk now because of a settlement that included a nondisclosure agreement. I didnt realize there was a significant problem. The Social Worker will ask numerous questions of you such as but not limited to adult's name, address, age/date of birth, Social Security number, family/collateral names, how is the person disabled, what are the allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation. I told her I did not have time to do that, I had to find a safe place for the child. 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 . On June 24, county DSS Social Work Director Rebecca Smith sent an email to all Buncombe law enforcement agency leaders acknowledging mistakes had been made in how the department responds to. 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. Sen. Jim Perry pushed back at the notion of blanket confidentiality. Must be able to understand and prioritize work to adhere to County, State and Federal timeframes. At one point, Noyes believed that an employee of DSS had an inappropriate previous professional relationship with a judge who handled the case. Buncombe - DSS Jobs NC Report and copy of Lawsuit provided by Robert A. Williams, Cleveland County Republicans in Civil War!! Sources report that the Cleveland County Commissioners have selected Katie Swanson from the Buncombe County DSS as the Director of the Cleveland County DSS. 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. Department of Social Services. In 2020, police in Black Mountain pulled over a swerving car and arrested all three adults. Email her at imari.scarbrough@gmail.com. In almost all cases where a child is young or at immediate risk, child welfare workers are required to respond immediately. Work County. Stacie Saunders, Buncombe County's public health director, who is leaving her position at the end of the year for a state government role. So, they did. Please read on to understand the state statute and Social Work Services responsibility. She was concerned the children could be injured if he attacked her. The sad part is Jane Shooter, Pam Bright Prichard, Karen Ellis Prichard and others should have been fired 25 years ago. To be perfectly honest, I just think we need to take action.. 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..