BAKERSVILLE – At the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting, a resident made public comments about the Mitchell County Department of Social Services.
Foster parent Cassandra Horton, an outspoken critic of the county’s department of social services, said the county has lost “dedicated social workers,” but the community has lost confidence in the local government.
“We have lost all trust,” she said. “All trust this board and others will stand along beside these great employees and appreciate what they can bring to our table.”
Horton added her displeasure with Child Protective Services, or CPS, being deemed as a source of revenue for the county and foster families.
“We now have lost something that so many social workers have fought so hard against, which is breaking the stigma that CPS is a money game,” she said. “When statements are made saying therapeutic foster care can add annual income to households, what we are doing is making people think this is about money, which is absolutely not what Child Protective Services is about.”
In her conclusion, Horton said she would not stop speaking out against DSS.
“When I got involved with this journey at the first of the year, it was about using my God-given voice to speak for those who cannot use theirs,” she said. “It was about speaking for the unjustified bullying and intimidation in the workplace. It was about standing up for what was right. It was about saying that Mitchell County’s ex and current employees are worth fighting for. It was about using my voice for foster parents, biological parents, and, most importantly, the kids of Mitchell County.”
At the end of her comment, none of the commissioners responded.
During its regular session on Monday, May 16, the DSS board briefly heard from Director Sara Ross, who reported the department was $289,000 below budget.
Ross noted April is the first month in new numbers that reflect the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were able to pull down an additional $20,000 in revenue, that saved the county an additional $20,000 during COVID, and I think our staff deserves the pats on the back,” she said. “In the midst of all of this, working from home to doing all that, they were able to work enough and build enough to bring down that additional $20,000 in revenue. That shows the hard work of DSS.”
Ross added there are currently 19 foster homes associated with DSS, but following the WLOS news story on May 28, they have had an increase in inquiries and hopes that number will exceed 20 foster homes by the end of the year.
After the update from Ross, the board went into closed session to “hear or investigate a complaint, charge or grievance by or against an individual public officer or employee.”
The closed session was brief, lasting only about one minute.