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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: March 21, 2023 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 7-a <br /> SUBJECT: Child Welfare Updates and Planning <br /> DEPARTMENT: Social Services <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Nancy Coston, 919-245-2800 <br /> Crystal Mitchell, 919-245-2800 <br /> PURPOSE: To receive an update on child welfare services provided by the Department of Social <br /> Services (DSS) including current system challenges and plans for the future. <br /> BACKGROUND: North Carolina's child welfare program is county administered and state <br /> supervised. Child welfare services, including child protective services, foster care and adoption, <br /> are legally mandated to be provided by departments of social services in all North Carolina <br /> counties. Counties are responsible for staff and management of the program while the state <br /> supervises the counties based on state law and policy. The rules, policies and procedures are <br /> predominantly established by federal and state legislation and by the North Carolina Department <br /> of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Most of the costs for staff and for services to these <br /> children and families are paid through federal and county dollars. <br /> Child welfare services consists of several components: prevention; assessment or investigation <br /> of child safety; provision of protective services to families; and, foster care/placement services. <br /> Much of the work of the Department of Social Services involves the District Court and only the <br /> courts can make decisions regarding child custody. <br /> The last several years have brought many challenges to DSS programs. First, there is a national <br /> shortage of social workers, particularly social workers working in child welfare positions. When <br /> there are staff shortages, DSS struggles to meet all the needs of children and families as well as <br /> all the regulations. <br /> Another challenge is finding appropriate services for families and children. The impacts of the <br /> pandemic and the current substance use issues are seen in many of the families served in child <br /> welfare services. The lack of health insurance or Medicaid for these parents is yet another barrier <br /> for them. Finding therapeutic placements and services has been particularly difficult and counties <br /> are often left with few options for the children in their care. <br />