Tag Archive for: #granvillecountydepartmentofsocialservices

Granville DSS Director Receives Alumni Honor From University Of North Florida

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Granville County Department of Social Services Director LaToya Toussaint was recently honored by the University of North Florida Black Alumni Association for achievement as a non-profit professional. Toussaint received the award, along with other alumni, at a ceremony in Jacksonville, FL.

Toussaint began her current role in Granville County in 2023 and has more than 18 years of experience in Human Services in North Carolina and Florida, both in the public and private sectors. Before coming to lead the Granville County DSS, Toussaint was the senior deputy director of Health and Human Services in Wake County.

Before moving to North Carolina, Toussaint had various leadership roles in Florida’s public and private sectors, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood. She was Broward County’s human services administrator and a case manager with the Florida Department of Children and Families, in addition to other positions within child welfare, early childhood education and mental and behavioral health programs.

She also served on local and statewide committees and work groups which continue to influence decision-making across Florida today.

In addition to this latest recognition from the UNF Black Alumni Association, Toussaint has been a National Peer Reviewer with the Council on Accreditation since 2018. She was recognized by Nonprofits First of Palm Beach County as a Rising Leader in 2016 and honored on Legacy Magazines’ “40 Under 40” list of recognized professionals from across Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties in 2017.

The University of North Florida Black Alumni Association focuses on financial contributions, direct personal involvement, and engaging the current minority population at UNF. The organization advocates for the needs of minority alumni and current students to university administration and the broader UNF alumni organization.

Toussaint holds a bachelor’s degree in health science and a dual master’s degree in public administration and nonprofit management from UNF.

Granville DSS Director Named; Swearing-In Ceremony Oct. 16 at 4 P.M.

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The Granville County Board of Social Services has announced that LaToya Davenport Toussaint has been selected to be the director of the Granville County Department of Social Services. Toussaint will be formally appointed and sworn in at a special meeting of the Board of Social Services at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center on Monday, Oct. 16 at 4 p.m., and then introduced to the county commissioners on the same day at 7 p.m.

Toussaint brings more than 17 years of experience in human services in North Carolina and Florida, where she has worked in both the public and private sectors. Most recently, Toussaint was the senior deputy director of Health and Human Services in Wake County,  where she oversaw administration and operations. Before that, she worked for several years in Florida as human services administrator with Broward County, near Miami.

“I am excited and truly honored to be selected as the next Granville County director of Social Services,” Toussaint said. “I can’t wait to work alongside our dedicated and talented Social Services staff, board of Social

Services, county manager, and the board of county commissioners to support Granville County and the Department of Social Services. I’m excited to be a part of a caring and engaged Granville community.”

Toussaint is a native of Jacksonville, Florida and holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Science and a dual master’s degree in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.  She recently relocated to North Carolina in 2022 with her husband, Kertus, along with their eight-month-old son Austin. In her spare time, she loves to travel internationally and create new and exciting memories as a first-time mom.

“We could not be more thrilled to have LaToya come to Granville County as our new director of Social Services,” said Board of Social Services Chair and County Commissioner Sue Hinman. “She brings so much experience to this position from her time in Florida and Wake County and we know that she is the perfect person to lead this department into the future.”

Toussaint began her career in child welfare as a case manager for the Florida Department of Children and Families, working directly with children who were victims of abuse and neglect and managing various programs for community-based care agencies in foster care and adoption. Toussaint’s time in Florida allowed her to collaborate with agencies across the state along with a diverse group of community providers. She also served on local and statewide committees and work groups that continue to influence decision making across Florida.

She has been a National Peer Reviewer with Council on Accreditation since 2018, was recognized by Nonprofits First of Palm Beach County as a Rising Leader in 2016 and honored on Legacy Magazines’ 40 Under 40 list of recognized professionals from across Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties in 2017.

Expanded Granville DSS Board Seeks Two Additional Members

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Information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

Granville County needs to fill two new positions on the Granville County Board of Social Services. The two seats were added after the Granville board of commissioners submitted a request to the N.C. Social Services Commission to expand the local board from three members to five. One position will be appointed by the Granville County Board of Commissioners and the N.C .Social Services Commission will appoint an individual to fill the other seat.

“It is critical that we recruit stellar applicants for both of these positions,” said Commissioner Sue Hinman, who also chairs the local Social Services board. “The Board of Social Services is critical, Hinman said. We can’t have a well-functioning county without a well-functioning Department of Social Services,” she said.

The Board of Social Services typically meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday at the Oxford Social Services Office, located at 410 W. Spring St. Board members are required to be citizens of Granville County, advocate for Social Services staff and clients, attend required training and continuing education courses, and come prepared to each monthly meeting. Board members are also expected to study and maintain a copy of the UNC School of Government publication “Serving on the County Board of Social Services.” Find the document here: https://www.sog.unc.edu/publications/reports/serving-county-board-social-services.

To apply for the Board of Social Services seat that will be appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, fill  out the application found here https://www.granvillecounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BOC-Application-PDF2023.pdf and submit to Debra Weary, Clerk to the Board of  Commissioners, by email at debra.weary@granvillecounty.org, in person at the County Administration Office  located at 104 Belle St., Oxford, or by mail to P.O. Box 906 Oxford, NC 27565 to the attention of Debra Weary.

 

Nomination forms for the state-appointed seat can be found here:  https://www.ncdhhs.gov/media/14051/download?attachment.

To learn more about the state appointment process, contact Paris Penny at 919.527.7527 or paris.penny@dhhs.nc.gov.

Mail completed applications for this seat by Nov. 2, 2023 to:

Paris Penny

NC Social Services Commission

2444 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-2444

Granville Social Services Board Seeking To Fill Seat; Nominations Due By May 5

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The Social Services Commission will make an appointment to the Granville County Board of Social Services to fill the seat of an expired term and the nomination period is open through May 5 to fill the term.

The term will expire June 30, 2023. The Social Services Commission will consider nominations at a future meeting, according to information from Gwendolyn Waller, with the N.C. Social Services Commission.

Nomination forms are available from the local department of Social Services office, but also can be downloaded here:

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/media/14051/download?attachment

Click on the link to the nomination form at the bottom of the Social Services Commission members web page.

Email nomination forms to Gwendolyn.waller@dhhs.nc.gov.