Officers discovered hundreds of used needles along with drugs in the room. 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. But the Sheriffs Office had no record of it. Box 7408 Some lawmakers were incensed. There appeared to be no attempt by the police or DSS to follow up with the Sheriffs Office. In 2016,Rylan Ott, nearly 2 years old, wandered from his Carthage home and drowned in a pond. County has new DSS director - Shelby Star Didnt they care this girl was going to be left with someone she did not know? 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. Some families accused DSS staff of generally playing God with peoples lives and acting in a conspiratorial manner. Three adults and a 9-year-old girl were in the car. Over time, many families have contacted Carolina Public Press about child protective services concerns. Bakers stepmother was already the subject of previous abuse findings. 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. 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. But even in some of these cases, legal counsel may ultimately advise them not to discuss the situation further. Police arrested all three adults, one of whom was the girls father. Its regretful there were some communications mishaps, said Cherokee County DSS DirectorAmanda McGeeina later interview on WKRK, a radio station in Murphy. Sports:What's new with Memorial Stadium? At the close of the hearing, Sen. Edwards asked Blevins if the same DSS worker handled both calls from the Black Mountain Police Department. Kate Martin is lead investigative reporter for Carolina Public Press. Throughout last weeks hearing, Blevins explained the delicate balance of preserving parental rights while ensuring children are cared for. County Social Services Director - DSS Jobs NC The district attorneys office decided that the evidence justified charges of misdemeanor child abuse, but not a felony. Carolina Public Press provides in-depth, investigative reporting on issues affecting Western North Carolina in a nonprofit, nonpartisan setting. CPPs news team analyzed data on child removals across North Carolina during the decade from 2010-19. Confidentiality rules preventing discussion of child welfare cases may limit much of the testimony NC legislators seek. CPPs news team analyzed data on child removals across North Carolina during the decade from 2010-19. 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. I ended the phone call.. We have a broken child welfare system that we refuse to invest in, Blevins said. She died during the winter, wearing only a T-shirt and her diaper. Veritas HHS But what to do with the 9-year-old girl? It was unclear whether photos documenting bruises were taken immediately or later, but they showed far less bruising than the family remembered seeing. Buncombe County will be making surface concrete repairs to the lower loading area. 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. A state legislative committee has voted to subpoena Buncombe County's Health and Human Services director to get answers as to why a social worker thought it was appropriate to leave a 9-year-old . Each member of a public agency or department must submit contact information for the Buncombe County personnel directory. Sources report that the Cleveland County Commissioners have selected Katie Swanson from the Buncombe County DSS as the Director of the Cleveland County DSS. 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. He was making a salary of $161,785.44, according to a public records request. 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. Jim Perry is so clueless: the purpose of an oversight committee is to provide oversight and rude. #828-479-7911 Fax #828-479-7928 Courier Number: 08-40-02. 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. Raleigh, NC 27699-2000. Adults Protective Services: DSS - Buncombe County | Asheville 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. If you would like to obtain posters or rack cards, please email hhscommunications@buncombecounty.org, Social Work Services Stacie Saunders, Buncombe County's public health director, who is leaving her position at the end of the year for a state government role. I had this conversation with (Sen. Chuck Edwards) the very first day we spoke in April, Blevins said. Shooter is not expected to last very long. Strong confidentiality rules surround child protective services cases under both state and federal law, for the purpose of protecting the identity of the children. Contact him at ftaylor@carolinapublicpress.org. She died in 2010, and her stepmother was eventually charged in her murder. County Vacancy Announcements - NCACDSS 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. Police called Buncombe DSS, and a county DSS worker told a police officer to leave the girl in the custody of a man she did not know in a hotel room filled with used drug needles, according to the police report. Editors note: This is part 2 of the four-part investigative series Patchwork Protection. Part 1 appeared June 7. Email her at kmartin@carolinapublicpress.org. New Jersey officials ruled the case a suicide, but a Carolina Public Press investigation identified problems with this explanation that have never been resolved. A state legislative committee has voted to subpoena Buncombe Countys Health and Human Services director to get answers as to why a social worker thought it was appropriate to leave a 9-year-old girl in the company of a man she didnt know in a hotel room filled with drugs and hundreds of used hypodermic needles. The questions asked are important to assure that all appropriate services are made available to the adult. Graham County DSS Ms. Amy Seay, Director 196 Knight Street Post Office Box 1150 Robbinsville, NC 28771 Tel. Social workers are supposed to try to make these contacts regularly. The three main program areas are Economic Services Programs, Social Work Programs, and Family Support Services. 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 General Assembly called Buncombe County Health and Human Services DirectorStoney Blevinsto testify about the incident. However, even with the subpoena, a county spokeswoman said Blevins would be limited in what he could reveal about the specific incident. Response times to child welfare reports vary depending on how much risk the child is in. And Im willing to have that conversation if this body is willing to take that action.. The DSS worker said we could leave the child in the room, but she hopes we would not do that, the report says. She told the police she wanted to go home. 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. 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. In some cases, people may have kept enough records and can present a credible account shored up by documentation. 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. A decade ago in Swain County, 15-month-oldAubrey Kina-Marie Littlejohndied while under supervision by county DSS. Buncombe County public health director leaving for NC Public Health She died in 2010, and her stepmother was eventually charged in her murder. Salary. A CPP investigation nearly two years later found that the family had notified the Brevard Police Department. Learn More{{/message}}, {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}It appears your submission was successful. 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. 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. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Contact him at RCSmith@gannett.com or 828-274-2222. 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. City Public Health Programs. And then we seem surprised when it fails. Kate Martin is lead investigative reporter for Carolina Public Press. Catherine Noyesis a grandmother who expresses frustration over the Cabarrus County Department of Social Services and courts handling of her familys case. 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. Now, much of that trust has been regained, Scott said, and after the work put in over the last several years, the department now has what Scott calls "stable processes. ", "We're good at what we do, we are consistent, we have good documentation and we have those good relationships across the organization," he said. As a result, the family said, the statute of limitations had expired, and no one could be charged two years later. The DSS worker called back and asked him to help complete the intake report. NC legislative oversight committee questions whether DSS official really needs a judges order to let him address his employees handling of case involving child. #828-479-7911 Fax #828-479-7928 Courier Number: 08-40-02. 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. Policy choices are made by individuals, though geographical isolation and limited resources may promote decisions in some areas of the state more than others. Starting Monday, Feb. 27, a maintenance project taking place at the Buncombe County Transfer Station may cause some extended wait times. Upcoming articles in this series will examine the systemic problems that create challenges for child protective services in North Carolina and potential solutions. Thank you! Graham County DSS Ms. Amy Seay, Director 196 Knight Street Post Office Box 1150 Robbinsville, NC 28771 Tel. CPP then mapped these comparison percentages, marking distinctly those at the extremes. Kate Martin is lead investigative reporter for Carolina Public Press. 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. Officers told her they might take him to jail and sarcastically asked if he should leave the girl alone in the hotel room. "The county has a strong team in the Finance Department and we appreciate Mason serving as our interim as the Commissioners undergo a search process to hire a new permanent Finance Director for Buncombe County," Board of Commissioners Chair Brownie Newman 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. She told the police she wanted to go home. With the support of readers like you, we provide thoughtfully researched articles for a more informed and connected community. 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. 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: There were needles under the seats and in the door pockets of the car. If you have an update to county agency information, please email dssweb@dhhs.nc.gov. Our staff is committed to providing Buncombe's diverse population with effective services in a timely and respectful manner. After children return to the home, social workers stay in touch to make sure they are safe. 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. No subpoena is necessary.. The North Carolina General Assembly meets in the State Legislative Building in Raleigh, seen here in Feb. 2018. 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. So, they did. This report has not been officially confirmed, but my sources are reliable. 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. Reliable sources also report that CCDSS Interim Director Jane Shooter is mad as a hornet that she was NOT promoted to the CCDSS Director position. Phone: 828-250-5500 At times he was asked his thoughts on how to improve the states child welfare system. Buncombe County Health and Human Services Director Stoney Blevins sits at his desk in Asheville. 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. 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. County Social Services Director - DSS Jobs NC Police later claimed that they emailed information about the case to the Transylvania County Sheriffs Office. Asheville, NC 28802 12. To learn more, view our full privacy policy. 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. 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. Theyve ripped (the grandchildrens) family apart, Noyes said. Hey, look around, look around, are Our Schools working ? 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. 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.