Broad smiles and applause broke out at a meeting of the board of the Rowan County Department of Social Services Tuesday.
After a year-long quest, the local Social Services department has now earned accreditation at the highest level possible.
The staff opted to undertake the challenge of accreditation just a few years after coming under fire from the community and the state over how it dealt with child abuse and neglect cases. Three children died at the hands of caregivers who were investigated by the department in 1997. Rowan is the the 11th county department in the state to gain accreditation from the N.C. Social Services Accreditation Council.
Director Sandra Wilkes told the board Tuesday evening that she got the good news earlier in the day. Wayne Black, Yadkin Social Services director and chairman of the commission, called her to congratulate the department.
Wilkes said county officials want to hold a ceremony and reception to mark the achievement.
Chairman Ed Koontz asked Wilkes and board member Leda Belk, also a county commissioner, to serve on a committee to plan a suitable event.
They hope to schedule the event in mid to late November.
The department will receive a plaque, a letter from Gov. Mike Easley and $300 to spend on a reception.
The accreditation process forced Social Services to examine itself and invite critiques from 30 community representatives. They helped give the agency a score on hundreds of standards, like service delivery and staff training.
While celebrating the accomplishment, the local board and staff made clear they will push on to continue improving the way they do business.
Board members set a retreat for the November meeting where they will discuss issues and set goals.
Koontz said the department’s new five-year plan can serve as a base for the session.
The board chairman said the department has achieved many of the goals it set last year. But one has proven elusive: getting a sign on the front of the West Innes Street building that clearly labels it as the Department of Social Services.
Prior to the board retreat, the Social Services staff plans to hold a retreat.
Several board members plan to attend training sessions in Greensboro and New Bern during the coming weeks.
In other business, the board:
- Approved a list of people to serve on a committee to hear Work First hardship appeals. With the 60-month period ending for some recipients, payments are scheduled to end unless the clients can convince the committee to grant an exception.
- Learned that the Child Support Unit’s move to the Southmark Commercial Center has hit a couple of snags.
Torrential rain earlier this week produced a few leaks at the new offices, and the phone company had not installed lines essential for the computer operation.
Child support officials said the new quarters are great. For the first time, staffers have offices where clients can be interviewed and assured of privacy. Wilkes said the staff already is trying to revamp the space vacated by the unit in the main complex.
Board members noticed the change as they arrived. For the first time, the hallways weren’t cluttered with makeshift offices.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette@salisburypost.com
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