Report and copy of Lawsuit provided by Robert A. Williams, Cleveland County Republicans in Civil War!! In a case of suspected abuse in a foster care setting, DSS is obligated to notify law enforcement. Buncombe County Health and Human Services Director Stoney Blevins sits at his desk in Asheville. 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. 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. The DSS agent who had documented the abuse in foster care no longer worked there by this time. But what to do with the 9-year-old girl? 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. 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. A CPP investigation nearly two years later found that the family had notified the Brevard Police Department. I told her I did not have time to do that, I had to find a safe place for the child. New Jersey officials ruled the case a suicide, but a Carolina Public Press investigation identifiedproblems with this explanationthat have never been resolved. Most of the allegations CPP has received from families are nearly impossible to substantiate. But Reeves death was only part of the case. 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. Email her at kmartin@carolinapublicpress.org. Buncombe County DSS Mr. Stoney Blevins, Director 828-250-5588. When CPP brought the case to the attention of deputies in 2016, they conducted an investigation. 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. Police later claimed that they emailed information about the case to the Transylvania County Sheriffs Office. Men Against the Women!! Social Worker Buncombe Family and Children's Services Government, Non-Profit and Other Non-Profit Organizations Individual and Family Social Services Social Service and Welfare . Click a goal. The DSS agent who had documented the abuse in foster care no longer worked there by this time. "I'm grateful to have an opportunity to serve even in the interim at this point in my career.". 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. Kate Martin is lead investigative reporter for Carolina Public Press. Sources report that the Cleveland County Commissioners have selected Katie Swanson from the Buncombe County DSS as the Director of the Cleveland County DSS. 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. County Director of Social Services August 1, 2022 / DSS Jobs NC. They are still considered the public in regard to this.. 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. 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 my taxes that go to CCS. Carolina Public Press contributing reporter Christian Green also assisted with interviews for this article. Buncombe County Health Department . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. pigella miraculous ladybug power. A Social Worker is responsible for assessment of the situation and determining the need for protection. Will Asheville City Soccer Club still play there? After children return to the home, social workers stay in touch to make sure they are safe. In some cases, people may have kept enough records and can present a credible account shored up by documentation. Reporting like this isnt free to produce and we cannot do this alone. Did you know that there is a law that was enacted in 1975 to protect disabled adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation? County Social Services Director Work Type Directors and Program Managers Position Number 221-16-0001 Salary $72,892 - $109,338 Closing Date May 10, 2021 Posted April 23, 2021 Agency Name Mitchell County Department of Social Services Work County Mitchell Job Contact Shooter is not expected to last very long. Forging contact records is not trivial. A social worker ordered a family to banish the family dog, who had bitten no one. A good many are probably false or contain half-truths. Part 1:Protection of NC children, families depends on the county, Part 3:Structure of NC child protective services leads to inequity, Part 4:NC could look to other states for potential child welfare reforms, Indicted former director resigns from DSS position, cant work for county again, Governor signs bipartisan child welfare overhaul bill, ByKate Martin,Frank TaylorandImari Scarbrough. Its just disturbing. Trouble in Paradise for Sure!!! The boys death spurred lawmakers to action, and the General Assembly approved a package of major reforms with strong bipartisan support. 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. But even in some of these cases, legal counsel may ultimately advise them not to discuss the situation further. {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. 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. The DSS worker said we could leave the child in the room, but she hopes we would not do that, the report says. With the support of readers like you, we provide thoughtfully researched articles for a more informed and connected community. Sampson County DSS has a budget of $12.8M and 150 employees serving across 3 divisions of programs: Adult, Child, and Family Services, Child Support, and Economic Programs and Services. In Buncombe County you can make a Protective Service referral or report by calling (828) 250-5800 anytime, day or night. And yet, I do not see proof that weve implemented the plans that have been made.. The 2020 Elections can put an end to that. Its just disturbing. 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. Our staff is committed to providing Buncombe's diverse population with effective services in a timely and respectful manner. While Blevins said that confidentiality rules forbade him from talking about this specific case, he did entertain a hypothetical question. 40 Coxe Avenue. But the foster care residence was in unincorporated Transylvania County, not the city of Brevard. She told the police she wanted to go home. To be perfectly honest, I just think we need to take action.. Sources report that the Cleveland County Commissioners have selected Katie Swanson from the Buncombe County DSS as the Director of the Cleveland County DSS. Or a family who had contacted CPP initially might not be able to talk now because of a settlement that included a nondisclosure agreement. The experience is typically traumatic and humiliating. A good many are probably false or contain half-truths. Stacie Saunders, Buncombe County's public health director, who is leaving her position at the end of the year for a state government role. With new equality rules coming down the pipe, many of us will most likely meet the Director. The state and counties, which implement state and federal policies at a local level, need to commit to make the changes, he said. People who lose their children or are unsuccessful in having children removed from the home of a troubled family member are not happy about these outcomes. But the foster care residence was in unincorporated Transylvania County, not the city of Brevard. Volunteer for the HCCBG Advisory Committee! Blevins strongly disagreed with this last claim. No subpoena is necessary.. 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. 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. Confidentiality rules preventing discussion of child welfare cases may limit much of the testimony NC legislators seek. Editors note: This is part 2 of the four-part investigative series Patchwork Protection. Part 1 appeared June 7. 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 City of Greenville is the county seat. This is your chance to support credible, community-based, public-service journalism. But sometimes social workers fudge. {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. But it took years for one young child to disclose what happened to her in the home. As a result, the family said, the statute of limitations had expired, and no one could be charged two years later. 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. GPS Longitude:-82.548709. I apologize that I cant answer, Blevins said. 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. Categories. If you would like to obtain posters or rack cards, please email hhscommunications@buncombecounty.org, Social Work Services Theyve ripped (the grandchildrens) family apart, Noyes said. He is earning a salary of $102,755.32, according to a public records request. Thank you for serving our children. Monday - Friday Henderson County residentFelicia Reevesdisappeared in August 2015. Some lawmakers were incensed. A lock icon or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. She wasnt sure why that didnt happen in Addisons case, and privacy laws prevented her from discussing the details. Reeves family said she had lived in fear for her life because of attacks from her ex-husband Titus Boley, who had served a prison sentence for assaulting her. 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. Blevins confirmed he will show up to talk with legislators once he receives the subpoena. Did you like this story? Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Job Contact. New Jersey officials ruled the case a suicide, but a Carolina Public Press investigation identified problems with this explanation that have never been resolved. I ended the phone call.. When CPP brought the case to the attention of deputies in 2016, they conducted an investigation. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The General Assembly called Buncombe County Health and Human Services Director Stoney Blevins to testify about the incident. This statute was initiated to protect the increasing number of disabled adults in North Carolina who are being abused, neglected or exploited. 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. Strong confidentiality rules surround child protective services cases under both state and federal law, for the purpose of protecting the identity of the children. Thank you! 90,126. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. When reached by police, a relative said he couldnt drive at night to pick her up. Catherine Noyesis a grandmother who expresses frustration over the Cabarrus County Department of Social Services and courts handling of her familys case. But the map also shows that the high and very high counties mostly cluster geographically, as do the low and very low counties. To help people know where to go if they suspect maltreatment or self-neglect, this rack card was created by BCHHS. I ended the phone call." The General Assembly called Buncombe County Health and Human Services Director Stoney Blevins to testify about the . 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. Although she filed a complaint, she said it was not taken seriously. 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. The position is appointed by and reports to a five-member Local Social Services Board. 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 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. 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. Food Assistance Medicaid Information Clinical Services Children Services Environmental Health Social Work Services News & Information National Black/African American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day But Zahra was never removed from the family. 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. But the grandmother said she could not care for Addison, Reeves younger child, at that time. 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. The DSS worker called back and asked him to help complete the intake report. Yourtax-deductible donationwill advance our mission of supporting journalism as a catalyst for change. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Reporting like this isnt free to produce and we cannot do this alone. The officer hung up, and the DSS worker called back and asked him to complete the report. 0:57. LE afforded BCDSS the same courtesy. But sometimes social workers fudge. Each countys average annual removal rate, compared with the states annual removal rate, was calculated as a percentage of the states rate. What's new with Memorial Stadium? Bakers stepmother was already the subject of previous abuse findings. In addition, the intake procedures can be arduous, and repetitive questions can fluster those reporting suspected child maltreatment. Its often impossible to know because the evidence surrounding child protective services is not available to the public. Your email address will not be published. Imari Scarbrough is a contributing writer to Carolina Public Press. This is your chance to support credible, community-based, public-service journalism. I thought we were waiting for them to copy the records.. Protection of the Abused, Neglected or Exploited Disabled Adult Act is located under Statute 108A Article 6. Within the room they found methamphetamine, other drugs and 200-300 used hypodermic needles, they said. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press. Low counties are clustered in the rural northeastern counties, which typically have very low populations. "The county is in a strong financial position, so I think it makes the work that we do easier.". Much like 911 operators, DSS workers ask specific questions when taking information on a new case, called intake, he explained. A parents attorney could get a hold of these records and make an argument to have the kids returned home.. A legislative study has shown that intake procedures differ widely among counties throughout North Carolina. Didnt they care this girl was going to be left with someone she did not know? A horrific child sex abuse case in Cherokee County two years ago included a puzzling delay by DSS officials in cooperating with prosecutors. If you have an update to county agency information, please email dssweb@dhhs.nc.gov. 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. Additional information on reporting abuse. 40 Coxe Avenue 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. 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. Post Office Box 7408. F. (828) 250-6235. Their stories were often shocking and always emotional. In almost all cases where a child is young or at immediate risk, child welfare workers are required to respond immediately. Report and History Lesson by Robert A. Williams . Email her at imari.scarbrough@gmail.com. Buncombe County has an average of 1,600 employees who serve as sheriff deputies, nurses, social workers, librarians, emergency medical workers, park rangers, environmental health specialists, planners, tax assessors, administrators and more - all working to serve the residents of Buncombe County. 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. Or a family who had contacted CPP initially might not be able to talk now because of a settlement that included a nondisclosure agreement. Address: 231 Wolverine Trail, Mill Spring, NC 28756 State Courier #: 06-74-02 Phone: 828-894-2100 Fax Number: 828-894-6326 Emergency Phone: 828-894-0187 Website. The statute requires that anyone having reason to believe that a disabled person is in need of protective service shall report such information to the director of the Social Work Services. Carolina Public Press provides in-depth, investigative reporting on issues affecting Western North Carolina in a nonprofit, nonpartisan setting. 0 miles away. Upcoming articles in this series will examine the systemic problems that create challenges for child protective services in North Carolina and potential solutions. Why didnt DSS show up on the scene? What You Need To Know About Reducing Fraud. Do you have concerns about a disabled adult who is either living in the community or in a licensed facility? Jim Perry is so clueless: the purpose of an oversight committee is to provide oversight and rude. 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. Secure websites use HTTPS certificates. 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. A grand jury first indicted the mother for neglect in 2015. For several months DSS did not produce confidential child welfare records for a criminal case after the DAs office sought them. I ended the phone call.. He said a social worker now shows up every time a law enforcement officer requests such a presence and will perform the intake report at the scene. Asheville, NC 28802 August 19, 2022 Posted August 1, 2022. At the core of what Scott will be working on within the department is the philosophy of "maintain, not correct," he said. Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. If you cant answer because you dont know or you can answer because you refuse to under some other authority, Edwards said. 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. It is important to screen cases correctly, or agencies risk violating parents constitutional rights to raise their children. Blevins challenged the accuracy of a Black Mountain Police Departments report that had led to the request for him to appear before legislators. A week later, the mother of two was found dead in a New Jersey motel room. 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. Buncombe County is basically my entire professional career at this point," Scott said. 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. 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. Why didnt DSS show up on the scene? A judge granted the request. Veritas HHS Please help support this type of journalism with asubscriptionto the Citizen Times. Asheville, NC 28801 However, even with the subpoena, a county spokeswoman said Blevins would be limited in what he could reveal about the specific incident. You guys are highly under-appreciated!! Graham County DSS Ms. Amy Seay, Director 196 Knight Street Post Office Box 1150 Robbinsville, NC 28771 Tel. The legal direction is that information cant be shared before the House or Senate, Govus said. An official website of the State of North Carolina, Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse, Office Of Minority Health And Health Disparities, Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing. Your email address will not be published. They described social workers ignoring judges instructions on keeping families together, social workers who acted on personal dislike of their families and irreversible adoptions that did not follow policy or the law and inappropriately kept family members in the dark about what was happening. 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. The questions asked are important to assure that all appropriate services are made available to the adult. Not long afterward, he died of an overdose. And I think you could understand how we would see that it could have the department or its failures.. Mason Scott, 34, was hand-picked by Warn as his temporary successor. The area is home to East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine and Vidant Medical Center. The police reported that an officer called Buncombe County DSS but then hung up on the social worker. But even in some of these cases, legal counsel may ultimately advise them not to discuss the situation further. Asheville, NC 28802 12. You may remain anonymous but we encourage you to give us your name in the event additional information is needed. There appeared to be no attempt by the police or DSS to follow up with the Sheriffs Office. Because of his time at various departments within the county, the news release said the county is confident his institutional knowledge will help him in his primarily inward-facing role. If a judge releases the record, the judge can release a record to whatever parties they choose to, Blevins said. An Associated Press investigation into Littlejohns death found social workers forged documents to cover their tracksafter the girl diedto show the visits had occurred when they in fact had not. But Reeves death was only part of the case. Places nearby. 404 Social Services jobs available in Buncombe County, NC on Indeed.com. Thank you! CPP then mapped these comparison percentages, marking distinctly those at the extremes. #828-479-7911 Fax #828-479-7928 Courier Number: 08-40-02. The DSS worker called back and asked him to help complete the intake report. All Rights Reserved. Taking a child from a parent is considered a last resort and is usually done to prevent imminent harm or maltreatment of a child. The programs are housed in three separate locations. 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. Please read on to understand the state statute and Social Work Services responsibility. Some families accused DSS staff of generally playing God with peoples lives and acting in a conspiratorial manner. Blevins said he cant talk about specific child welfare cases because of confidentiality laws. Buncombe County will be making surface concrete repairs to the lower loading area. Forging contact records is not trivial. And some economically advantaged counties may also cluster with high or low removal rates. Officer had to use extreme caution due to the number of needles located.. I had this conversation with (Sen. Chuck Edwards) the very first day we spoke in April, Blevins said. Blevins had said the subpoena was unnecessary. The parents used intravenous drugs in the presence of their children and failed to provide adequate nutrition and hygiene, the indictments said. I thought I had faith in it, but I dont anymore.. Secure websites use HTTPS certificates. 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. This will reduce capacity to one active hopper and operational delays should be expected. 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 . 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. 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.