Stacie Saunders, Buncombe County's public health director, who is leaving her position at the end of the year for a state government role. The boys deathspurred lawmakers to action, and the General Assembly approved a package of major reforms with strong bipartisan support. If you have an update to county agency information, please email dssweb@dhhs.nc.gov. A timeline of the Buncombe County corruption investigation, Wanda Greene dark money lawsuit mediator orders her to hand over answers before Christmas, former County Manager Wanda Greene was indicted on embezzlement charges and went to federal prison. 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. 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. Noyes said she continues to work with her daughter to regain custody of the children but has become disappointed by the process. State Sen. Chuck Edwards said during the hearing that police officers were told by a social worker to leave the . State law also allows DSS offices to disclose records to prosecutors without court orders, saidSara DePasquale, an associate professor specializing in child welfare law at the UNC School of Government, two years ago. Inside were three adults and a 9-year-old girl, the police report of the traffic stop says. CPP then mapped these comparison percentages, marking distinctly those at the extremes. Entertainment:Food Network's 'Spring Baking Championship' to feature WNC pastry chef. They may think the system has wronged their families. Bakers stepmother was already the subject of previous abuse findings. It is my taxes that go to CCS. 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. 0 miles away. Forging contact records is not trivial. 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. This will reduce capacity to one active hopper and operational delays should be expected. Stay up to date with the most current information. She wasnt sure why that didnt happen in Addisons case, and privacy laws prevented her from discussing the details. 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. They may think the system has wronged their families. F. (828) 250-6235. A week later, the mother of two was found dead in a New Jersey motel room. Blevins said confidentiality laws, as well as state rules surrounding personnel information, prevent him from saying more without a judges intervention. A decade ago in Swain County, 15-month-oldAubrey Kina-Marie Littlejohndied while under supervision by county DSS. In some cases, people may have kept enough records and can present a credible account shored up by documentation. Noyes said she continues to work with her daughter to regain custody of the children but has become disappointed by the process. CCDSS Interim Director Jane Shooter expected to be gone soon!! But sometimes social workers fudge. 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. Starting Monday, Feb. 27, a maintenance project taking place at the Buncombe County Transfer Station may cause some extended wait times. Family members had warned social workers multiple times she was in danger and had received no response from DSS, according to the Smoky Mountain News. I do not believe it is a blanket black box that prevents you from having any discussion about anything related to your department, Perry said. 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. Theyve ripped (the grandchildrens) family apart, Noyes said. Apply to Engagement Director, Director of Admissions, Human Resources Specialist and more! Protection of the Abused, Neglected or Exploited Disabled Adult Act is located under Statute 108A Article 6. Meanwhile, Addisons birth family had no idea what had happened to him after removal from foster care. 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 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. 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. Scott has a bachelor's degree in German from Wake Forest University and a masters degree in project management from Western Carolina University, according to the county's news release. 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. LE afforded BCDSS the same courtesy. 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. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Buncombe County DSS has since changed its procedures, Blevins told Carolina Public Press last month. Catherine Noyesis a grandmother who expresses frustration over the Cabarrus County Department of Social Services and courts handling of her familys case. Kate Martin is lead investigative reporter for Carolina Public Press. And Im willing to have that conversation if this body is willing to take that action.. August 19, 2022 Posted August 1, 2022. But the map also shows that the high and very high counties mostly cluster geographically, as do the low and very low counties. The DSS worker said we could leave the child in the room, but she hopes we would not do that, the report says. 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. Does the child feel safe? In September 2016, a CPP investigation learned that the boy had been adopted within weeks of his mothers death. 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. Burke County DSS . Then, using the child population of each county during the year in question, reporters calculated the percentage of children removed in a given year. Policy choices are made by individuals, though geographical isolation and limited resources may promote decisions in some areas of the state more than others. 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. But Reeves death was only part of the case. 2001 Mail Service Center Her school reported abuse, and multiple social workers visited the family. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press Their stories were often shocking and always emotional. If you have an update to county agency information, please email dssweb@dhhs.nc.gov . Select acountyon the mapto view phone numbers, websites, physical addressesand mailing addresses. 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. She was concerned the children could be injured if he attacked her. Addison was placed in foster care in Transylvania County. 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. 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. Once a referral is taken for Protective Services, a Social Worker will be assigned the case. Social workers removed him from the foster care setting, but the family remained unclear about what happened to him next, they told CPP. The police reported that an officer called Buncombe County DSS but then hung up on the social worker. Secure websites use HTTPS certificates. Police arrested all three adults, one of whom was the girls father. I ended the phone call.. In nearly 1-in-4 of North Carolinas 100 counties, child welfare workers consider outside guidance in addition to statewide policy for child welfare cases, the report said. Directors and Program Managers. 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. Why didnt DSS show up on the scene? Catherine Noyes is a grandmother who expresses frustration over the Cabarrus County Department of Social Services and courts handling of her familys case. Hey, look around, look around, are Our Schools working ? Food Assistance Medicaid Information Clinical Services Children Services Environmental Health Social Work Services News & Information National Black/African American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day On March 20, police in Black Mountain pulled over a car that was swerving over the white line. 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 map also shows that the high and very high counties mostly cluster geographically, as do the low and very low counties. The General Assembly called Buncombe County Health and Human Services Director Stoney Blevins to testify about the incident. Other cases require that they respond within 24 or 72 hours. It was unclear whether photos documenting bruises were taken immediately or later, but they showed far less bruising than the family remembered seeing. 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. I told her I did not have time to do that, I had to find a safe place for the child. Choose a focus area. She was concerned the children could be injured if he attacked her. The questions asked are important to assure that all appropriate services are made available to the adult. But the foster care residence was in unincorporated Transylvania County, not the city of Brevard. Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. 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. Officers discovered hundreds of used needles along with drugs in the room. She died during the winter, wearing only a T-shirt and her diaper. 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. After children return to the home, social workers stay in touch to make sure they are safe. 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. When reached by police, a relative said he couldnt drive at night to pick her up. 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.. I had this conversation with (Sen. Chuck Edwards) the very first day we spoke in April, Blevins said. 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. To be perfectly honest, I just think we need to take action.. It was unclear whether photos documenting bruises were taken immediately or later, but they showed far less bruising than the family remembered seeing. Men Against the Women!! 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. 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 case made international headlines over the following months, focusing a world spotlight on the total failure of the child protection system in her case. In the upcoming election we can kick out this majority fool board. Some lawmakers were incensed. State Government websites value user privacy. Throughout last weeks hearing, Blevins explained the delicate balance of preserving parental rights while ensuring children are cared for. Carolina Public Press provides in-depth, investigative reporting on issues affecting Western North Carolina in a nonprofit, nonpartisan setting. 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. The police reported that an officer called Buncombe County DSS but thenhung up on the social worker. Please join us! But what to do with the 9-year-old girl? Editors note: This is part 2 of the four-part investigative series Patchwork Protection. Part 1 appeared June 7. Kellie Branche. 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. 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. The Director serves as the executive officer of the county board of social services executing the authority of the board as defined in GS 108A14. 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. 404 Social Services jobs available in Buncombe County, NC on Indeed.com. 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. 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. A grand jury first indicted the mother for neglect in 2015. When news organizations contact local departments of social services offices with questions about a specific case, the agencies are typically unable to discuss them. Learn More{{/message}}. 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. And so Im not sure we need a (new) law. Carolina Public Press provides in-depth, investigative reporting on issues affecting Western North Carolina in a nonprofit, nonpartisan setting. Transparency, relationships and continuous improvement are all things Scott hopes to work on during his time in the role, he said. 0:57. Visit RelayNCfor information about TTY services. Adoptions in North Carolina cannot be reversed. But Zahra was never removed from the family. Theyve ripped (the grandchildrens) family apart, Noyes said. 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. When news organizations contact local departments of social services offices with questions about a specific case, the agencies are typically unable to discuss them. Post Office Box 7408. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press. For several months DSS did not produce confidential child welfare records for a criminal case after the DAs office sought them. I mean you cant get back the last couple years of these little children, you know.. 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. Some abuse is so heinous that workers are required to investigate immediately. He answered legislators questions about generic procedures but drew the line when asked about the specific case.