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. Please help support this type of journalism with asubscriptionto the Citizen Times. 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. When news organizations contact local departments of social services offices with questions about a specific case, the agencies are typically unable to discuss them. Her school reported abuse, and multiple social workers visited the family. Over time, many families have contacted Carolina Public Press about child protective services concerns. I ended the phone call.. Stay up to date with the most current information. 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. To learn more, view our full privacy policy. All Rights Reserved. The Cleveland County Department of Social Services has a new director. Zahra Baker was a native of Australia who lived in Catawba County with her father and stepmother. CPPs news team analyzed data on child removals across North Carolina during the decade from 2010-19. 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 county is in a strong financial position, so I think it makes the work that we do easier.". Thank you! I can promise you, I would be better served to speak to you about the things youre asking me, Blevins said. Job Contact. The officer hung up, and the DSS worker called back and asked him to complete the report. No appointment is needed. 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. 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. County Director of Social Services Work Type. A horrific child sex abuse case in Cherokee County two years ago included a puzzling delay by DSS officials in cooperating with prosecutors. Hey, look around, look around, are Our Schools working ? Cherokee County DSS never responded to CPPs questions about the records fracas but provided the records to the DAs office after CPP published a story about the issue. So, they did. The position is appointed by and reports to a five-member Local Social Services Board. 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. Im so disgusted with the system. the tall man aboriginal spirit; metadata api request failed: component conversion failed: file_ended; caleb foote sandlot Reporting like this isnt free to produce and we cannot do this alone. 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. Although she filed a complaint, she said it was not taken seriously. Frank Taylor is the managing editor of Carolina Public Press. 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. Burke County DSS . They visit the parents, then write down what they say. CCDSS Interim Director Jane Shooter expected to be gone soon!! Blevins evaded, citing confidentiality rules. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press Their stories were often shocking and always emotional. 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. 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. Must be able to understand and prioritize work to adhere to County, State and Federal timeframes. 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. 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. 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. 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. Theyve ripped (the grandchildrens) family apart, Noyes said. 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. Not long afterward, he died of an overdose. 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. 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. 0 miles away . Forging contact records is not trivial. They are still considered the public in regard to this.. Editors note: This is part 2 of the four-part investigative series Patchwork Protection. Part 1 appeared June 7. Catherine Noyes is a grandmother who expresses frustration over the Cabarrus County Department of Social Services and courts handling of her familys case. DHHS Childrens Program representative Brian Vogl stated concerns for falsifying the foster care monthly contact records these are identical, and they are falsifying these records, the memo stated. Mason Scott, 34, was hand-picked by Warn as his temporary successor. 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. Thats all Im going to say, best leave before I get upset. 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 police reported that an officer called Buncombe County DSS but thenhung up on the social worker. Legislators subpoena Buncombe official over DSS handling of childs case, Legislators grill Buncombe DSS director, who disputes Black Mountain cops, cites confidentiality rules, NC could look to other states for potential child welfare reforms, Governor signs bipartisan child welfare overhaul bill, 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. Edwards said he has been unable to get straight answers out of Blevins even after a conversation. Officers discovered hundreds of used needles along with drugs in the room. Each member of a public agency or department must submit contact information for the Buncombe County personnel directory. Almost every one of those studies says essentially the same thing; the recommendations are pretty much the same, Blevins told the committee. Department of Social Services. Is everyone healthy and is there enough food? Sources report that the Cleveland County Commissioners have selected Katie Swanson from the Buncombe County DSS as the Director of the Cleveland County DSS. But the Sheriffs Office had no record of it. The intake process can take a while, as it requires people who report abuse to answer many questions. Or a family who had contacted CPP initially might not be able to talk now because of a settlement that included a nondisclosure agreement. Please join us! Our staff is committed to providing Buncombe's diverse population with effective services in a timely and respectful manner. Policy choices are made by individuals, though geographical isolation and limited resources may promote decisions in some areas of the state more than others. It was unclear whether photos documenting bruises were taken immediately or later, but they showed far less bruising than the family remembered seeing. 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. Taking a child from a parent is considered a last resort and is usually done to prevent imminent harm or maltreatment of a child. Granville County DSS 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. A week later, the mother of two was found dead in a New Jersey motel room. (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.. Social Work Services We aim to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable residents and promote self-reliance and self-sufficiency for individuals and families. This sometimes required my response if SWs were handling other cases. Low counties are clustered in the rural northeastern counties, which typically have very low populations. 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. 2001 Mail Service Center Post Office Box 7408. 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. 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. 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. In September 2016, a CPP investigation learned that the boy had been adopted within weeks of his mothers death. 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. Agency Name. Visit RelayNCfor information about TTY services. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. In some cases, people may have kept enough records and can present a credible account shored up by documentation. The DSS worker called back and asked him to help complete the intake report. Theyve ripped (the grandchildrens) family apart, Noyes said. 39. 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. I ended the phone call.. Buncombe County DSS Mr. Stoney Blevins, Director 828-250-5588. Social workers are supposed to try to make these contacts regularly. On March 20, police in Black Mountain pulled over a car that was swerving over the white line. New Jersey officials ruled the case a suicide, but a Carolina Public Press investigation identified problems with this explanation that have never been resolved. Buncombe County DSS Mr. Stoney Blevins, Director 828-250-5588. 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. Why didnt DSS show up on the scene? Throughout last weeks hearing, Blevins explained the delicate balance of preserving parental rights while ensuring children are cared for. 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. Post Office Box 7408. But the grandmother said she could not care for Addison, Reeves younger child, at that time. Blevins pointed out that the police report says the officer hung up on the DSS worker who was trying to take the report. I predict that in short time, if you dont agree with the CCS system which marches in step with Their Federal heros diversity bullshit, that DDS will take you to court. The General Assembly called Buncombe County Health and Human Services Director Stoney Blevins to testify about the incident. If it is an emergency, an on-call social worker is available after regular business hours and weekends. Why didnt DSS show up on the scene? The DSS worker called back and asked him to help complete the intake report. 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. If you have any questions you may call or come into our office located at 35 Woodfin Street, Asheville, NC. 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. Buncombe County's Finance Department, which oversees the accounting for the over $580 million fiscal year 2023 budget, recently lost its director to another county, and a longtime Buncombe County employee has stepped up to temporarily hold the position. As a result, the family said, the statute of limitations had expired, and no one could be charged two years later. 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. Because of that, we placed one of our staff at the hospital. You may remain anonymous but we encourage you to give us your name in the event additional information is needed. Blevins strongly disagreed with this last claim. Your support means a lot! When CPP brought the case to the attention of deputies in 2016, they conducted an investigation. In addition, the intake procedures can be arduous, and repetitive questions can fluster those reporting suspected child maltreatment. The purpose of intake questions is to determine how urgently a case needs the governments attention. 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. Police arrested all three adults after saying they found drugs and used needles, according to the report. Adoptions in North Carolina cannot be reversed. Polk County Department of Social Services. 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. 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. Please join us! Trouble in Paradise for Sure!!! Some lawmakers were incensed. Reporting like this isnt free to produce and we cannot do this alone. LE afforded BCDSS the same courtesy. Carolina Public Press has confirmed that there was a subpoena. Buncombe County Fire Marshall . Director. They may think the system has wronged their families. 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. 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. Editors note: This is part 2 of the four-part investigative series Patchwork Protection. Part 1 appeared June 7. 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 like what you are reading and believe in independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan journalism like oursjournalism the way it should beplease contributeto keep us going. State Sen. Chuck Edwards said during the hearing that police officers were told by a social worker to leave the . 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. Blevins said he cant talk about specific child welfare cases because of confidentiality laws. 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. I thought we were waiting for them to copy the records.. In a case of suspected abuse in a foster care setting, DSS is obligated to notify law enforcement. Officers located needles on the beds, the nightstands, TV stand and the bathroom. 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. If you would like to obtain posters or rack cards, please email hhscommunications@buncombecounty.org, Social Work Services 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. Its often impossible to know because the evidence surrounding child protective services is not available to the public. Salary. Buncombe County will be making surface concrete repairs to the lower loading area. A decade ago in Swain County, 15-month-old Aubrey Kina-Marie Littlejohn died while under supervision by county DSS. So, we fund a position to work at the hospital so that we can respond to these situations as soon as that baby is delivered. 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 grandmother said she could not care for Addison, Reeves younger child, at that time. 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. 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. BUNCOMBE COUNTY - IM CASEWORKER II VARIOUS PROGRAMS - OPEN UNTIL FILLED DURHAM COUNTY - ASST. Asheville, NC 28802 12. Your email address will not be published. Will Asheville City Soccer Club still play there? These are system answers to human problems.. 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. Provides receptionist duties at times to Central Clerical. Once a referral is taken for Protective Services, a Social Worker will be assigned the case. They may think the system has wronged their families. After children return to the home, social workers stay in touch to make sure they are safe. One was located in a glove inside a door pocket, a police report says. CPPs news team analyzed data on child removals across North Carolina during the decade from 2010-19. Many of the counties with very low rates or rates in the middle also experience poverty. Many of the counties with very low rates or rates in the middle also experience poverty. 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. The 2020 Elections can put an end to that. "I'm still kind of young in my career. 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. 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. During visitation with the family in 2014, they noticed marks on him, which led to a Department of Social Services investigation. Stanley said officers could search the room. Addison was placed in foster care in Transylvania County. Cheri Wood, 828-250-6340 This project was produced for the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalisms 2020 Data Fellowship. #828-479-7911 Fax #828-479-7928 Courier Number: 08-40-02. Confidentiality rules preventing discussion of child welfare cases may limit much of the testimony NC legislators seek. Blevins challenged the accuracy of a Black Mountain Police Departments report that had led to the request for him to appear before legislators. Kate Martin is lead investigative reporter for Carolina Public Press. 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. To help people know where to go if they suspect maltreatment or self-neglect, this rack card was created by BCHHS. Required fields are marked *. 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. 39. What You Need To Know About Reducing Fraud. This report has not been officially . Most of the allegations CPP has received from families are nearly impossible to substantiate. It was unclear whether photos documenting bruises were taken immediately or later, but they showed far less bruising than the family remembered seeing. Her trailer had no heat, according to statements to law enforcement. During visitation with the family in 2014, they noticed marks on him, which led to a Department of Social Services investigation. Child welfare officials rank reported cases of abuse and respond either immediately, within 24 hours or within 72 hours depending on the severity of the allegation. State Government websites value user privacy. 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.. When news organizations contact local departments of social services offices with questions about a specific case, the agencies are typically unable to discuss them. 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. Wrongful Termination and Breach of Contract!!! 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. Monday - Friday But even in some of these cases, legal counsel may ultimately advise them not to discuss the situation further. Christian Smith is the general assignment reporter for the Asheville Citizen-Times. New Jersey officials ruled the case a suicide, but a Carolina Public Press investigation identifiedproblems with this explanationthat have never been resolved. In 2020, police in Black Mountain pulled over a swerving car and arrested all three adults. NC Department of Health and Human Services 2001 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-2000. A judge granted the request. The General Assembly called Buncombe County Health and Human Services DirectorStoney Blevinsto testify about the incident. Monday - Friday The legal direction is that information cant be shared before the House or Senate, Govus said. Required fields are marked *. No subpoena is necessary.. He was making a salary of $161,785.44, according to a public records request. Prosecutors filed additional charges, including incest, aiding and abetting incest, child prostitution and other felony sex offenses involving multiple close relatives. Each countys average annual removal rate, compared with the states annual removal rate, was calculated as a percentage of the states rate. I ended the phone call." The General Assembly called Buncombe County Health and Human Services Director Stoney Blevins to testify about the . Its just disturbing. Officers told her they might take him to jail and sarcastically asked if he should leave the girl alone in the hotel room. Secure websites use HTTPS certificates. When Reeves sister,Suzan Bayorgeon, contacted CPP in late 2015, her family was distraught not only over Reeves death but also because they did not know the whereabouts of heryoungest son,Addison. CPP then mapped these comparison percentages, marking distinctly those at the extremes. Officers said they found drugs and needles on or near all of the adults, including uncapped hypodermic needles, marijuana and methamphetamine. It is my taxes that go to CCS. No appointment is needed. Contact him at RCSmith@gannett.com or 828-274-2222. Dumbing Down Courses for High School Students so CCS can send more students into Program so CCS and CCC make more $$$ off the Taxpayers!!!
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