DEPARTMENT EVENTS
Medicaid Verifications Central Email Address
[email protected]
Medicaid Expansion Information
For information on Medicaid Expansion, please click the link below.
****FNS Benefit Change****
In March 2023, Transylvania County's additional emergency allotments under the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program under COVID-19 will come to an end. For households who have been receiving increased FNS payments each month from March 2020 or later, food benefits will be decreased back to standard allotments. Please follow the link below for further information.
*PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF FRANKLIN et al. v. KINSLEY*
“Notice to Class of Proposed Settlement of Franklin v. Kinsley.” Franklin et al. v. Kinsley, formerly known as Hawkins et al. v. Cohen, is a federal lawsuit filed in 2017. This case was certified by the Court as a class action lawsuit on behalf of N.C. Medicaid beneficiaries. Click Here for Notice
Social Services Block Grant Plan
To report adult or child maltreatment
Please call (828)-884-3174, then press option 1 and ask for Adult or Child Protective Services intake.
Your confidentiality will be maintained in these situations. Emergency reports of Adult Protective Services or Child Protective Services after regular office hours can be reported by calling 911.
Our Mission
Our Mission is to improve the quality of life of the citizens we serve and strengthen community relationships.
We hope you find this website useful in learning about the various services we offer to accomplish our mission, as well as key contact persons and data on how we are performing our mission.
Looking for information about services in Transylvania County, call 2-1-1.
Services for Adults
Adult Services Programs offer support to elderly and disabled adults, provide protective services to vulnerable adults and regulate certain residential services. Programs that we administer include:
Adult Protective Services (APS)
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.
Guardianship
TCDSS must sometimes initiate or help families initiate guardianship proceedings for incompetent adults. We contract case management services to a private vendor.
There are 4 types of guardianship appointments:
- Guardian of the Person
- Guardian of the Estate
- General Guardian
- 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).
Facility Licensing and Monitoring Services
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 monitoring complaints, state surveys, and penalties.
Adult Care Home Resident Discharge
TCDSS takes the lead role for discharge destination for those residents of Adult Care Homes who have received a discharge notice and at the time of discharge the destination is not appropriate or is unknown. These services are for residents whose primary unment needs are related to health, Alzheimer's Disease, other dementia, abuse or neglect.
Special Assistance In-Home Program
This program provides case management and coordination of services to eligible Medicaid residents who are receiving no other Medicaid Case Management services. This program allows individuals to stay in a private living arrangement as an alternative to assisted living placement.
Learn More About NC Medicaid Managed Care
Services for Families & Children
Family and Children’s Services Programs that we provide include:
Child Support
Child Support services works with custodial and non-custodial parents to ensure children receive adequate financial support. Child Support Enforcement provides the following services:
- Locating absent parents
- Establishing paternity
- Establishing support orders through the court for medical and financial support
- Enforcing court ordered support obligations.
Child support services are available to anyone in the county without regard to income. There may be an application fee not to exceed $25.00.
Work First Employment Services
Work First Employment Services provide case management for families who are receiving Work First beneifts 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.
Child Protective Services Assessment
Unfortunately, children sometimes are harmed by their parents or caretakers. When suspicion of child abuse or neglect exists, our agency initiates an assessment to determine whether the child is indeed abused, neglected or dependent (has no one available to provide care to them). The purpose of this assessment is to identify any safety concerns and future risk of harm, and to provide services to alleviate these safety factors. If a criminal act has been committed, a referral is made to law enforcement for a criminal investigation.
Child Protective Services Remediation
When a child has been determined to have been abused or neglected by a parent or caretaker, in-home services are offered to the family to remediate the causes of the abuse and neglect so that family functioning is improved and the child can remain safely in his/ her home.
Foster Care
The primary purpose of Foster Care service is to provide a safe temporary placement for children who cannot remain safely in the home of their parent(s). These children are in the custody of the Department of Social Services by court order. The goal of foster care is to implement a plan for permanency for each child. If the child cannot be returned home to the parents, another permanent planned living arrangement is made.
Permanency plans by federal law are:
- Reunification with parents
- Relative placement in foster care
- Guardianship/custody (with a relative or non-relative)
- Adoption (by a relative or non-relative)
- Another planned permanent living arrangement in foster care (APPLA)
Child placement needs are evaluated, arranged, maintained and supervised in licensed or Court-sanctioned placement, with services to assist in reunification or another permanent plan for the child. The agency provides services in conjunction with the community that are community-based, child centered, and family focused.
Adoption
These services assist children who cannot safely return to their birth families become part of a legally secure permanent home.
Adoption Services for children in DSS custody include:
- Recruitment, Training and Assessment of Families
- Child Specific Adoption Recruitment and Preparation
- Adoption Placement and Support
- Adoption Assistance payments
- Post Adoption Services
Our agency also provides home assessments for relative and independent adoptions as requested and available. There are fees for these services. Please contact our adoption staff for more information if interested.
What is the Safe Haven for Abandoned Infants Act (Daniel's Law)?
This state law provides pregnant women with an alternative to abandoning a newborn baby in potentially fatal circumstances such as in the dumpster. Under the Safe Haven Act, an infant can be left with a hospital or hospital outpatient facility, law enforcement agency, fire station, emergency medical services station, or any staffed house of worship during the hours the facility is staffed. The infant must be less than 7 days old, unharmed, and left by the parent or other person acting for the parent. The law provides the parent immunity from prosecution if the conditions are met. A baby left under these conditions will be placed in DSS foster care and adoptions proceedings will be initiated immediately. Contact our local DSS office if you need additional information.
How to Become a Foster or Adoptive Parent
Foster parents are special people who provide a nurturing, stable environment for children who must temporarily reside outside of their homes due to abuse, neglect or dependency. Foster parents may be married or single, ages 21 and over, may or may not have children of their own, and must have sufficient income for the needs of their own family. Our foster families are diverse in race, ethnicity, income and age.
We encourage interested persons to contact Denny McBride at 828-884-3174 ext.1637 or by email at [email protected] for information on how to become a member of our local foster family team.
Financial Services
Public Financial Assistance Services are provided to individuals and families to assist with basic needs of daily living. Each program has different eligibility criteria and most are mandated and/or funded with state and federal funds, although some private organizations also provide limited funding to assist community members through our Department. Some of our programs are available on a yearly basis, while others are provided as one time assistance to alleviate a crisis situation. Services that we provide include:
Adult Medicaid
**VIDEO** English - North Carolina Medicaid Managed Care
**VIDEO** Spanish - North Carolina Medicaid Managed Care
The Medicaid program assists individuals with the cost of medical care and other related costs. Adult Medicaid programs provide medical insurance, financial assistance for residential care and in some cases assistance to avoid residential care. Adult recipients of Medicaid may include nursing home residents, assisted living residents, adults with disabilities, elderly individuals, and individuals in specialized programs such as Community Alternative Programs and Special Assistance In-Home. Eligibility for Medicaid is based on income and resource guidelines.
Family and Children’s Medicaid
Medicaid programs for families and children assist with the cost of medical care and other related expenses. Recipients of Family and Children’s Medicaid programs may include pregnant women, infants and minor children, foster and adopted children as well as Work First families. Eligibility for Medicaid is based on income guidelines.
Medicaid Transportation
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.
Work First
The Work First Program is a statewide program aimed at helping eligible families find and maintain full time employment. The receipt of limited funds is available to families while they seek and obtain employment as well as other supportive services such as child care assistance, transportation to employment and job readiness training. Some applicants may be eligible to receive a one-time cash payment instead of receiving ongoing cash assistance. This is called Work First Benefit Diversion.
Food and Nutrition Services (formerly known as food stamps)
Food and nutrition services assist eligible households with the purchase of food. A household may consist of an individual person or multiple families living together in one dwelling. Eligibility for food and nutrition assistance is based on income and reserve guidelines.
TANF Child Only Funds
Occasionally a child cannot remain in his/ her own home for reasons such as safety, loss of a parent or other factors. When a specified relative is caring for a child, limited funding may be available to help care for the child.
Child Care Subsidy
The Child Care Subsidy program distributes state and federal funds 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.
Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)
LIEAP is a heating assistance program that provides once-a-year heating assistance to qualifying low-income citizens. The program is initially targeted toward senior citizens and disabled adults. If funds still exist after these populations have received assistance, then remaining funds are distributed to any citizen who meets income guidelines. No cash is distributed to the citizen; rather, services are purchased for the citizen from their heating provider. This could be the electric company, the gas company, fuel oil provider or even a firewood vendor. Applications usually begin around December and January of each year.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is available online and can be viewed at EFS-FNSEP-21-2020
Public Notice: LIHEAP Block Grant Plan The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides heating, crisis and weatherization assistance. States are given broad latitude under block grant funding to design and operate their own programs, under certain restrictions. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is seeking public comment on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Block Grant Plan, which outlines how the federal LIHEAP block grant funds will be spent in North Carolina during federal fiscal year 2023- 2024. The Administration of Children and Families allowed North Carolina the option to clone its plan from last year while the department reviews its Federal Compliance Report for any revisions to the plan that may be needed. Any revisions will be announced and reposted for public comment. The plan may be viewed from Sept. 1-7, 2023, at the following locations:
• On the Division of Social Services website: DSS Public Notices Website https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/public-notices
• On all 100 county DSS websites: County DSS Directory A public hearing webinar will take place at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, to go over the block grant plan and address and any questions, comments or concerns.
Please use the link below to register: • https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3357081012488071511 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. Comments can be emailed to Jasmyne Simmons at [email protected].
Crisis Intervention Program (CIP)
CIP provides heating/cooling assistance to elderly, disabled and families with children who are experiencing a life threatening heating/ cooling crisis. The family has to meet eligibility requirements and their net income has to be at or below 150% of the poverty level. There is a maximum benefit of $600 per household per state fiscal year. CIP can be used for oil, gas, deposits, or past due electric bills. These services are provided based on available funds.
Helping Each Member Cope (HEMC)
HEMC has the same eligibility criteria as CIP, except the family has to be a customer of Haywood Electric. Maximum benefit is $600 per year. These services are provided based on available funds.
Community Emergency Assistance (CEA)
C-EA provides short-term assistance during an immediate crisis to households in which a related child in the home is under the age of 18 (or 19 if he/she is a full time high school student). The program is both limited in allowable reserve and countable gross income at or below 150% of the poverty level. There is a maximum benefit of $300 per household. C-EA can be used to pay utilities, rent, temporary shelter, transportation, and other things deemed an emergency by program guidelines. These services are provided based on available funds.
200% of Poverty Funds
This program provides short-term assistance to families meeting all related requirements. There must be an immediate crisis and a related child under the age of 18 (19 if he/she is a full time high school student). The needed assistance must be job related. The program is both limited in allowable reserve and countable income at 200% of the poverty level. Active Work First Clients are not eligible. 200% of Poverty can be used to pay utilities, rent, temporary shelter, transportation, and other things that may be deemed an emergency by DSS. These services are provided based on available funds.
State Adult Day Care Fund
Certify individuals for financial assistance to enable them to attend the Adult Day programs and monitor the expenditures of the State Adult Day Care Funds.
To report adult or child maltreatment
Please call (828)-884-3174, then press option 1 and ask for Adult or Child Protective Services intake.
Your confidentiality will be maintained in these situations. Emergency reports of Adult Protective Services or Child Protective Services after regular office hours can be reported by calling 911.
The DSS Board
As outlined in G.S 108A-1, the Department of Social Services is advised by a DSS Board. The primary functions of the board are to hire and support the social service director, advise local authorities on social conditions and needs in the community and to help ensure effectiveness, efficiency, fairness and excellence in the public social services system. The number of board members is five: two appointed by County Commissioners, two appointed by the N. C. Social Services Commission and one appointed by the other DSS Board members. The term of office is three years, and members can only serve two consecutive full 3-year terms. All members must be a bona fide resident of the county.
The Transylvania County DSS Board routinely meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. in the 1st floor conference room of the DSS building located at 106 East Morgan Street. The public is invited to attend.
The November and December DSS Board meeting for 2023 will be one combined meeting on December 13, 2023 at 1:00pm in the first floor conference room of the DSS building.
The Transylvania County Social Services Board consists of:
- Mrs. Page Lemel - Board Chair
- Mrs. Jessica Shanor - Vice Chair
- Mrs. Teresa McCall
- Mr. Tyree Griffin
- Mr. Paul Welch
Annual Reports
- 2013 / 2014 Annual Report
- 2012 /2013 Annual Report
- 2011 / 2012 Annual Report
- 2010 / 2011 Annual Report
- 2009 / 2010 Annual Report
- 2008 / 2009 Annual Report
Key Staff Contacts:
- Director:
Amanda Vanderoef
(828) 884-3174
[email protected]
- Deputy DSS Director:
Katherine Cox
(828) 884-1672
[email protected] - Business Officer/Fiscal Operations/Personnel:
Pam Newman
(828) 884-1654
[email protected]
- Medicaid and Work First Family Assistance:
Stacey Taylor
(828) 884-1646
[email protected] - Adult Medicaid, Long Term Care& Special Assistance:
Carla Owens
(828) 884-1656
[email protected] - Food & Nutrition Assistance and Crisis Assistance:
Marlene Wilkerson
(828) 884-1662
[email protected]
- Adult Services:
Sylvia Petit
(828) 884-1658
[email protected]
- Child Protective Services/Intake/In-Home/Foster Home Licensing:
Renee Crocker
(828) 884-1681
[email protected]
- Child Protective Services/Investigations:
Trina Hill
(828) 884-1669
[email protected] - Foster Care/Adoption Services:
Rachel Arends
(828) 884-1884
[email protected]
- Child Support Enforcement:
Cathy Causey
(828) 250-6347
[email protected]
- Medicaid Transportation:
Cheryl Mouton
(828) 884-3283
[email protected]
Helpful Links
Links to Other Services
- Caring.com - Resources for Family Caregivers
- Information on Food & Nutrition Programs
- NC DHHS - DSS Program Information
- Information on Children's Medical Coverage
- Self-Screening for Public Assistance Programs
- 2-1-1
- Community Resource Connections for Aging and Disabilities
- To Volunteer go to Get Connected.
- Area Aging Agency