Social Services
PLEASE NOTE: DSS HOURS OF OPERATION WILL CHANGE TO 7:30AM UNTIL 5:30PM EFFECTIVE MAY 11, 2009. SEE BELOW FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Department of Social Services is located at 314 South Magnolia Street in Raeford, NC. The work schedule is normally from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Situations sometime occur which require selected staff members to respond after “normal” duty hours. These situations are reported through the County’s Emergency 911 System.
ADMINISTRATION
Della Sweat – Director of Social Services
Kay McMillian – Administrative Officer
Amber Oxendine – Processing Assistant
REPORTS FOR ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES OR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
PLEASE DO NOT E-MAIL REPORTS FOR CHILDREN OR ADULTS OF ABUSE, NEGLECT OR EXPLOITATION. E-MAIL MAY NOT BE CHECKED DAILY IF A WORKER IS OUT IN TRAINING OR ON LEAVE. PLEASE CALL 875-8725 DURING BUSINESS HOURS 7:30 AM TO 5:30 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. PLEASE CALL 911 TO MAKE A REPORT AFTER BUSINESS HOURS OR ON HOLIDAYS AND THEY WILL REACH AN ON CALL SOCIAL WORKER.
ADULT SERVICES UNIT
If you need to make an Adult Protective Services report during the hours of 7:30 am and 5:30 pm Monday thru Friday, please call Services Intake at 878-1988. After business hours and on weekends, please call 911 and ask for the On-Call Social Worker.
The Social Workers in the Adult Services Unit provide intensive social work assistance to clients and their families who have serious and complicated social, economic, emotional, physical and mental problems. The “Services” programs are designed to protect those in need of assistance and who are not competent to provide adequately for themselves. The Service Programs include:
- Protective Services for Adults
- AT RISK Case Management
- Guardianship Service
- Individual/Family Adj. Services
- Payee Services
- In-Home Aide Services
- Adult Home Specialist – monitor facility for licensure compliance
- Health Support Services
- SA – In Home
- Adjustment Services for the Blind and Vision Impaired, and Medical Eye Care for County residents (The Social Worker for the Blind is typically in the office on Wednesdays & Thursdays)
Please feel free to contact the Adult Services Supervisor via e-mail or at 878-1935 for more information about any of programs and services offered through the Adult Services Unit.
CHILDRENS SERVICES UNIT
If you need to make a Child Protective Services report during the hours of 7:30 am and 5:30 pm Monday thru Friday, please call Services Intake at 878-1988. After business hours and on weekends, please call 911 and ask for the On-Call Social Worker.
Kristi Pigford – Supervisor, Foster Care and Adoptions
Terry Stanton – Supervisor, Child Protective Services
Children’s services consist of an array of legally mandated services with the primary purpose of protecting children and ensuring that they have a safe, permanent home. These services are provided by highly trained and motivated Social Workers performing the following duties:
- Intake
- Child Protective Services Investigation
- Child Protective Services Case Management
- Foster Care
- Adoptions
Whatever discrete services that are needed to meet our objective are provided to children and families.
DSS LINKS Program – Click Here
FOSTER CARE & ADOPTIONS
Throughout the year, Hoke County DSS recruits new foster and adoptive families. We always need families willing to provide care for children of all ages, but the greatest need is for teenagers, 13 and up.
Open your heart, open your home…become a Foster and/or Adoptive Parent and help children and families in need.
For more information, please contact Hoke County DSS at (910) 875-8725 or (910) 878-1926 and ask to speak to a Licensing Social Worker.
Learn More About Our Program
Resource Family Newsletter
INCOME MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
Sheffie Turner – Program Manager
The Income Maintenance Section is responsible for determining program eligibility on a “means tested” or ability to pay, basis. These programs include the Food and Nutrition program, formerly referred to as the Food Stamp program, and the Medicaid programs, which provide medical insurance to eligible individuals. Additionally, this Section provides Voter Registration services to all applicants and recipients. A Fishing License Waiver service is also available to all Income Maintenance program recipients. This section is also responsible for the investigation, prosecution, and collection of claims resulting from fraud and abuse in any of the Income Maintenance Programs administered by the department.
FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES PROGRAM
The Food and Nutrition Services Program is designed to promote the general welfare and to safeguard the health and well being of the nation’s population by raising the levels of nutrition among low-income households. The Food and Nutrition Services Program is authorized by the Food Stamp Act of 1977.
The North Carolina State Division of Social Services provides policies and procedures as well as the responsibility of supervising and administering the program through the Local County Departments of Social Services. Hoke County Food and Nutrition Services Recipients are currently able to utilize their benefits via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) which is a “debit card” that is issued rather than the older, more traditional, paper food stamp coupons.
ADULT MEDICAID PROGRAM
The Adult Medicaid Unit is responsible for meeting the needs of the adult, disabled or aged population of Hoke County.
The purpose of this unit is to determine eligibility for those individuals who meet the income and reserve criteria as set forth by state and federal guidelines. These incomes and reserve limits can range anywhere from 100% to 135% of the federal poverty level, depending on the particular Medicaid program.
Medicaid pays for medical services only, and can be used in conjunction with other health insurance (including Medicare).
Eligibility guidelines are determined by federal and state government standards and are monitored by the North Carolina Division of Medical Assistance.
FAMILY AND CHILDREN MEDICAID PROGRAM
The Family and Children’s Medicaid Program is a program that assists pregnant women, families and/or children with the cost of medical care. The family Medicaid consists of Medicaid to Families with Dependent Children, Medicaid to Infants and Children under the age of 19, and Medicaid for Pregnant Women.
North Carolina Health Choice for Children is a Health Insurance Program for uninsured children who are ineligible for Medicaid under the age of 19, who do not qualify for Medicaid, and whose countable income falls under a specific percentage of the Federal Poverty Limit.
The Family Planning Waiver is a program that assists women age 19 through 55 and men 19 through 60, who are not pregnant and are not sterilized.
The program is designed to reduce unintended pregnancies and improve the well-being of children and families in North Carolina.
FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES
The Family Support Services Unit consists of four different sections: Work First Family Assistance (formerly known as AFDC or TANF), Work First Employment Services, Child Care Subsidy, and the Crisis Intervention Program (CIP). This unit provides an array of professional social work services to include: services for Work First recipients that will eliminate their need for public assistance in becoming and/or maintaining self sufficiency & deal with domestic violence situations, day care services for recipients working or attending school, and administering CIP to assist with heating/cooling needs. All of these programs are based upon the family size, income and need for services.
CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT
The Child Support Enforcement staff works diligently to insure that children whose parent(s) lives separately from them are provided for financially by the non-custodial parent(s). Section IV-D of the Social Security Act requires that caretakers of children receiving public assistance cooperate with Child Support Enforcement to assist them in accomplishing their goals of obtaining financial support for those children. Non-recipients of public assistance may also avail themselves of the services of this unit for a nominal application fee.
The steps taken by the Child Support Agents involve: LOCATION, ESTABLISHMENT OF PATERNITY (when necessary), ESTABLISHMENT OF A CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION (through the court system), and ENFORCEMENT of Child Support Orders issued by the court system. The Automated Collection Tracking System (ACTS), other computer-based enhancements, and emphasis by Federal and State Child Support Agencies are evolving into a program that facilitates locating and enforcing child support even across state lines.
HOKE COUNTY DSS BOARD MEMBERS
- Chad Hodgin, Chairman
- Carl Pevia, Vice Chairman
- Gwen Booker
- Ellen C. McNeill
- Brenda Branch
DATE AND TIME OF MONTHLY MEETING: Last Monday of each month (4:00PM)
LOCATION: T.B. Lester, Jr. Office Building (Hoke DSS) Conference Room, 314 S. Magnolia St., Raeford NC 28376
LINKS
- NC DIVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES
- NC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
- NC CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT – eCHILD SUPPORT
- NC SENIOR CARE PROGRAM
- NC FOSTER CHILD ADOPTION
- NC CHILD ADVOCACY INSTITUTE
- NC DIVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE BLIND
- NC FOSTER PARENTS ASSOCIATION
- NC DIVISION OF AGING AND ADULT SERVICES
- NC DIVISION OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT
- NC DIVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE DEAF AND THE HARD OF HEARING
“In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Under the Food Stamp Act and USDA policy, discrimination is prohibited also on the basis of religion or political beliefs.
To file a complaint of discrimination, contact USDA or HHS. Write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). Write HHS, Director, Office for Civil Rights, Room 506-F, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201 or call (202) 619-0403 (voice) or (202) 619-3257 (TTY). USDA and HHS are equal opportunity providers and employers.”
Maxton, NC