The mission of Transylvania County Department of Social Services (TCDSS) is to improve the quality of life for Transylvania County citizens by encouraging personal responsibility, promoting self sufficiency, protecting children, elderly and disabled adults, and strengthening families.  All services provided by the department are mandated and each program has its unique guidelines designed to best serve the individuals or families.

 Public assistance programs operated by the department include Adult Medicaid, Family and Children Medicaid, Work First, and Food Stamps. Medicaid is a program to assist eligible individuals and families with the cost of medical care.  Transylvania County currently maintains Medicaid cases on approximately 4400 individuals.  These include families, children, nursing home residents, assisted living residents, adults and children with disabilities, elderly individuals, and individuals in specialized programs such as Community Alternative Programs and Special Assistance In Home.

 The Medicaid Program serves the alien community with limited benefits.  An illegal alien may receive assistance in an emergency situation and also for labor and delivery.  However, once the baby is born, the child is eligible for Medicaid benefits as a United States citizen.  Legal aliens may receive benefits equal to those of United States citizens once they have been in this country for five years.

 The Food Stamp Program assists eligible households with the purchase of food.  The number of households served has grown to over 1100 in Transylvania County.  We have one of the highest participation rates in western North Carolina due in part to outreach within the county.  Over the last two years, the Food Stamp Program has expanded to include more benefits to the elderly.

 The Work First Program is a statewide program aimed at helping eligible families find and maintain full time employment.  Extensive coordination with community agencies and local employees is necessary.  This program serves approximately 200 families, with an average of 50 families enrolled in Work First Employment Services.  Aliens are eligible for Work First only if they are documented and have been in the United States for five years.  In fiscal year 2005-2006, our department met all state goals and exceeded seven of them.  Transylvania County was one of four counties in the state that met all goals.

 In addition to the public assistance programs, the department administers social service programs for both children and adults.  Adult Protective Services evaluates reports of alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation involving disabled adults that are physically and/or mentally incapacitated.  In 2005, there were 41 reports evaluated by the department.  During the evaluations, it is often discovered that there are some disabled adults who are incompetent and are in need of a legal guardian.  Many times family members are able to be legal guardians but if an appropriate family member is not available, the department is named guardian.  At present, the department is legal guardian of 11 individuals.

Transylvania County has five adult care/assisted living facilities that can accommodate six  residents each and two facilities that can accommodate sixty-four residents.  The department is responsible for monitoring the facilities for compliance with state and federal rules and regulations.  The adult home specialist also provides technical assistance to the facilities.  Public records are kept at our agency on all complaints, state surveys, and penalties.

 In addition to the above adult services, the department is responsible for monitoring two adult daycare facilities, certifying individuals for financial assistance to enable them to attend adult day care, and acting as a representative payee for individuals who need assistance in managing their money.  Families are also evaluated through the intake system for their eligibility for crisis intervention funds, community energy assistance, and low income energy assistance.

 Child abuse and neglect investigations are one of the primary responsibilities of the Child Welfare Program.  Anyone who suspects neglect or abuse on a child is required by law to report the allegations to DSS or law enforcement.  The department evaluates the reports that meet the legal definition of abuse and neglect.  Treatment services are provided in substantiated cases to ensure children are safe.  On call services are provided 24 hours, seven days per week.  There have been 235 screened in Child Protective Service reports since January 1, 2006.

 Foster care services are essential for children who cannot remain in their own home due to protective issues and family disruption.  DSS currently has custody of 51 children.  These children are placed with relatives, in licensed DSS foster homes, group homes, and several are in adoptive placements.  Local foster homes are licensed and trained through DSS.  At this time, there are nine licensed foster families in the county.  The department strives to achieve permanence for children who are placed in their custody.  This could be by returning to parents, placement with relatives, or adoption.  DSS completes not only agency adoptions, but also relative and step-parent adoptions.  In fiscal year 2005-2006, eleven children that had been in DSS custody obtained permanence through adoption.

 Support services are essential to families in order for them to be successful in caring for their children.  Child Support Enforcement works to assure that children receive adequate parental support by locating absent parents, establishing paternity, providing medical and financial support and enforcing court ordered support obligations.  Through child support enforcement, Transylvania County serves approximately 910 children and collected  over $1,625,000 in fiscal year 2005-2006 for their benefit.  The Child Support Enforcement Unit at TCDSS received state recognition for being one of the top ten offices in the state in fiscal year 2005-2006 based on performance goals set by the state and federal government.

 The Child Development Program, which is under the DSS services umbrella, operates a Developmental Day child care center, a child care resource and referral agency, administers the state child care subsidy program and two Smart Start grants.

The Developmental Day program at New Adventure Learning Center provides an individualized program for children with, or at-risk for developmental delays, developmental disabilities, and atypical development.  The program is designed to meet the developmental needs of children including self-help, physical, language and speech, cognitive and social skills.  The center serves 64 children, ages six weeks to five years. At least 40% of children are typically developing and are enrolled for parents to work or attend school or job training.  Other children are enrolled for special child and family needs and may be referred for services by other community agencies.  The center contracts with the school system to provide 18 slots for identified special needs children ages 3-5 years old.  Resource staff under contract with the program provide physical, occupational, speech and language therapies.

 The Child Care Resource and Referral provides services designed to provide an effective child care delivery system to the community.  Services provide a link between providers of child care, families who need care, and employers and community planners who address child care needs.  The program assists in developing and maintaining quality child care programs through education, training and support of parents and child care staff and recruitment of programs to meet the demand.  A lending library is available to provide a variety of resources to all child care programs.  Smart Start grant funding also assists in supporting specialized training and resource kits to all child care programs.  There are approximately 165 child care workers in the county.

 The Child Care Subsidy program distributes approximately $1,000,000 of state and federal funding in the form of child care vouchers for eligible families.  Eligibility is determined according to the family’s situation, household income and composition.  Families may receive vouchers to allow them to work, attend school or job training, to support child protective services, to assist in a crisis, or to meet the needs of a developmentally delayed child.  The program contracts with an average of thirty-five providers including public and private centers, family child care homes, and individual providers within this county and out of county as needed.  The program provides assistance to an average of 420 children per year.  In addition, Smart Start provides approximately $100,000 to distribute for child care subsidy, families in crisis, children with special needs, and part day preschool scholarships.  Smart Start subsidy funding assists an additional 85 children per year.

 The Department of Social Services is dedicated to helping our citizens meet basic social and financial needs, protect children and disabled adults from abuse and neglect, and assist families in becoming self sufficient.  While the department must follow policies and procedures set by the state and federal government, community support is necessary to successfully address the issues.  We are fortunate to be part of a community that works in partnership with many other agencies to keep the needs of families in the forefront.

List of Fees

Child Support Application $25
NC Health Choice $50 or $100 maximum
Adoption Services Fee varies depending on type
Court-ordered Home Studies $200
Supervised Visitation $45/hour (applies to non-DSS clientele)

Services and Contact Person

Office Hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location(s): 205 E Morgan Street, Brevard NC
 
Director: Carson F. Griffin, Director

Phone Number: 828-884-3174

E- mail: carson.griffin@transylvaniacounty.org

Child Welfare & Protective Services
Renee Roof, Supervisor

Foster Care and Adoption Services
828-884-3174, option #1

Adult Services & Adult Protective Services
Louise Koontz, Supervisor

Work First Employment Services
828-884-3174, option #1

Adult Care Home Specialist
Cindy Fikes
828-884-3174, option #1

Crisis Intervention, Emergency Assistance
Charles Tompkins
828-884-3174, option #1

Family & Children Medicaid, Jeanine Verhaeghe, Supervisor
Adult Medicaid Special Assistance
828-884-3174, option #2

Work First Family Assistance
Food Stamps - Jeanine Verhaeghe

Child Support Enforcement
Elizabeth Lilley, Supervisor
828-884-3174, option #2

Medicaid Transportation Coordinator
Lisa McDaris
828-884-3283

Personnel Officer Cindy Anders, AOI
828-884-3174, option #1