The main building is located on Highway 301, approximately three miles north of the town of Halifax. There is a total staff of 166 employees.

Statement of Philosophy

The Halifax County Department of Social Services was established due to the legal mandate to provide specific limited services to the citizens of the county. The operation of the agency has traditionally been based upon social work values and principles. The Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers is practiced to the extent that each employee's job assignment will permit. Employees are expected to be committed to supporting the agency's goal to administer all programs without prejudice and at the highest level of effectiveness and efficiency possible. All applicants for and recipients of services must be recognized as unique individuals, and treated with respect and dignity regardless of age, race, sex, color, religion, handicap, national origin, or economic and social status in the community. All citizens have a right to be informed of services available and the specific eligibility requirements, so that informed decisions can be made regarding the utilization of community resources. They should expect and receive prompt, courteous service during the application process and the delivery of services. There must be impartial application of the established laws, policies, and procedures. In order for the agency to fulfill its legally and morally mandated responsibilities, all employees must make a commitment to learn his/her job assignment and to develop the required skills to serve the community by the distribution of reliable information and data, giving everyone an opportunity to be helped, and safe-guarding the public trust. Each staff position is budgeted because of a specific need, and the recognition that each has an essential and unique role in the chain of activities which are required to provide the specified services and to protect the rights of all citizens.

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Halifax County Department of Social Services is to provide to Halifax County citizens, and any others who may be in our county, specific limited services which are designed to ensure protection from abuse, neglect, and exploitation; to enable some individuals to become self-supporting; to enable everyone to be as self-sufficient and independent as possible; and to ensure out of the home placement when this becomes necessary. The staff is committed to serving individuals and families in a respectful, confidential, timely, efficient, and compassionate manner and to being responsible managers of all the programs and funds entrusted to us. We recognize and encourage the rights of all individuals to seek and receive or refuse services in accordance to what they believe to be in their own best interest. We believe that we have a professional and moral responsibility to assist in this process. We recognize the importance of intra and inter-agency teamwork in establishing linkages which allow us to appropriately and adequately serve the county residents, and fulfill the mission of the agency.

Services Provided

Adoptions: Casework services to assist children to legally become a member of a new permanent family, as well as recruitment and study of adoptive homes.

Adult Day Care Services: Assistance in the arrangement and purchase of quality day care in order to support the adult's personal independence; promoting their social, physical, and emotional well-being; the recruitment, monitoring, and re-evaluating certified programs; and providing consultation and technical assistance.

Adult Protective Services: Services include investigations of alleged abuse, neglect, exploitation, or hazardous living conditions of individuals 18 years of age or older; and necessary to ensure the protection of those unable to manage their own resources, carry out daily activities, or protect their own interest.

Child Day Care Services: The purchase of quality day care services to allow parents to continue employment, to seek employment, to train for employment, and to protect neglected and abused children.

Child Protective Services: The investigation of reports of alleged neglect and/or abuse of children under 18 years of age; the provision of casework services to remove conditions which put the child in danger; or services to facilitate the removal of the child from a harmful situation.

Child Support Enforcement Services: Establishes and enforces financial and medical support obligations on parents who are absent from the home.

Emergency Financial Assistance:

Crisis Intervention Program provides financial assistance to eligible low-income persons who are experiencing a heating or cooling related crisis.

WFFA Emergency Assistance provides short term financial assistance to households with needy children who are experiencing a crisis, not related to heating or cooling.

County General Assistance financial assistance provided to persons who are in need of immediate help and no other resources are available.

Eye Care Program: Assistance with the cost of eye examination, treatment, eyeglasses, ocular prosthesis, hospitalization, and surgery.

Food Stamp Program: Supplements the food dollars of low-income families and individuals and enables participants to purchase more nutritious food.

Foster Care for Adults: Services that ensure placement appropriate to the individual's needs when they are unable to remain in their own homes; and the recruitment, assessment, monitoring, and supervision of domiciliary care homes.

Foster Care for Children: Services to children and their families to facilitate out-of-home care and for reunification, recruitment of volunteers to serve as foster parents, preparation of home studies, supervision of children in care, and the training and supervision of foster homes.

Guardianship Services: Services to legally declared incompetent adults.

Health Support Services: Services to individuals and families to help them recognize health needs and to receive appropriate treatment. Included are family planning services to enable individuals and families to voluntarily limit the number and spacing of children.

In-Home Services: Home based services provided to the elderly/disabled to enable them to remain in the community and in their own homes with dignity and independence to the greatest extent possible.

In-Home Aide Level I and Level II supportive and educational services to the elderly; including money, management, planning and preparing nutritious meals, assistance in shopping, and performing some housekeeping duties.

In-Home Aide Level I and II assistance provided in the home for elderly, disabled, and handicapped individuals who no longer can perform necessary home management and personal care tasks and are at risk of institutionalization.

Individual and Family Adjustment Services: Casework counseling and intervention services to assist individuals and families in stabilizing their environment and in maintaining an adequate level of functioning.

Investigation and Collection Services: Investigates suspected Welfare Fraud and ensures recovery of Public Assistance overpayments.

Low Income Energy Assistance (LIEAP): Financial assistance given one time during the year to help with the cost of heating.

Medical Assistance Only (MA): Medical Assistance for families with dependent children under 19, individuals through age 20, pregnant women, disabled individuals under 65, individuals 65 and older, individuals visually impaired; children in substitute placement, qualified Medicare beneficiaries, individuals in private living arrangements, and individuals in nursing homes.

Protective Payee Account: Management of accounts for children and adults for whom the agency has been appointed payee.

Reception Services: On-site: Individuals visiting the agency are registered, screened, and directed to the appropriate program.

State County Special Assistance (SA): Financial and medical assistance for individuals 18 and over, who reside in domiciliary care facilities.

Work First Employment Services: The Work First Program provides WFFA recipients the opportunity to obtain the education, training, and supportive services necessary to improve employability and avoid long-term dependency.

Work First Family Assistance (WFFA): Financial and Medical Assistance to families with children deprived of parental support, with monthly payment based on needs and resources.
 

Administrative Staff

Chen Lin, Program Manager Social Worker Services-Adult

Carolyn Poythress, Program Manager Social Worker-Children

Marsha Brown , Program Manager Economic Indepedence

Tammy Bohannon, Program Manager Employment Services

Melody Beaver, Program Manager Child Support Enforcement

Patricia Fellows, Business Officer Administrative Support

Jeffery Jenkins, DSS Attorney