APS evaluates reports alleging that disabled adults with a physical or mental incapacity or elderly adults are abused, neglected, or exploited and are in need of protective services. Our goal is to determine whether the adult is able to perform or obtain for himself/herself essential services or is without able, willing, and responsible persons to perform or obtain those services on the client’s behalf. We assess the situation to determine what services are needed to protect the adult and prevent further mistreatment.

TCDSS must sometimes initiate or help families initiate guardianship proceedings for incompetent adults. When TCDSS is appointed the guardian for a person, we provide case management and make decisions for individuals that the court has adjudicated incompetent and appointed DSS as guardian. There are 4 types of guardianship appointments:

1. Guardian of the Person
2. Guardian of the Estate
3. General Guardian
4. Limited Guardianship (which means that a person may be competent to make decisions in some areas, but unable to make decisions in other areas of his/her life).

TCDSS licenses and monitors family care homes (6 beds or less), adult care homes (7 beds or more), assisted living facilities, adult day health centers and adult day care centers for compliance with state/federal rules and regulations. We also investigate complaints of non-compliance in facilities and provide technical assistance to facility staff. Public records are kept at DSS on all complaints, state surveys, and penalties.

This service provides case management and coordination of appropriate services to eligible "heavy care" Medicaid Special Assistance residents in facilities.

DSS is appointed representative payee for some citizens who receive funds such as SSI, Social Security, And SA In-Home and have been determined unable to manage these funds themselves. We are responsible for paying the client’s bills and managing their money appropriately.

Work First Employment Services provide case management for families who are receiving Work First benefits to assist them in removing barriers to work and becoming employed and self-sufficient. If satisfactorily participating, families can be eligible for case management services, work-related expenses, child care, and transportation assistance. Families that go off Work First due to employment are eligible for Retention Services, which allows them to receive mileage reimbursement to and from work for up to one year after they leave Work First. Work First Van Transportation provides transportation for Work First families to and from their employment, school, and daycare. Some CPS/Foster Care children are also transported, as well as some general public.

The NC Division of services to the Blind offers services at our local DSS on Wednesdays. Applications are taken for eye care assistance to benefit children and adults without Medicaid whose income is below poverty level.

This service is available to Medicaid recipients to provide gas vouchers or transportation to Medicaid reimbursable appointments. This service is only used as a last resort. (Transylvania County Dept. of Transportation actually coordinates the Medicaid transportation program).