Tag Archive for: #vancecountydss

Vance County Manager Sees Growing Vacancies As “An Opportunity”

/by

According to the Vance County website, there are 22 departments within county government, from administration to tax administration. Of those 22, County Manager C. Renee Perry reports that four departments face vacancies in the director role after one director was fired and three more turned in resignations.

That’s a lot of vacancies, but Perry, now in her fourth month as county manager, remains positive: “It gives me the opportunity to build my team and move forward…I’m looking at it as an opportunity.”

Perry said Vance County Economic Development Director McKinley Perkinson’s last day is Mar. 19; she was named to the job in November 2021. Perkinson told WIZS that she is leaving for another opportunity, but wasn’t ready to divulge what that opportunity is.

Vance County Board of Elections Director Jennifer Cocklin has resigned her post. Cocklin said she’d see the county through the Mar. 5 primary elections and will leave on Mar. 29.

Cocklin said her resignation has nothing to do with the job, but she cited personal reasons for deciding to step down. “The board has been very good to me, as well as the poll workers,” she said.

The county elections board is responsible for naming her successor, Perry noted.The Department of Social Services has an interim director Tilda Marshall, who stepped in when Denita DeVega resigned. Perry said DeVega is the new DSS director in Nash County. The DSS director reports to the DSS board, which is charged with finding a replacement.

All that on top of the Feb. 9 firing of County Deputy Manager/Chief Finance Officer Katherine Bigelow, and Vance County is facing some big holes in its administrative leadership.

If you count new Planning Director Sherry Moss and Animal Services Director William Coker, both of whom assumed their duties in the last month or so – and County Manager Perry, who came on board in November 2023, that’s seven of the 22 departments -close to one-third of the county’s departments.

Perry, sounding undeterred, said Vance County “is not unique in the amount of vacancies…other counties are experiencing the same.” She said she would continue to recruit and look for the best candidates for the open positions, adding that she hopes that prospective employees will see her as “a manager who wants to support them and lead Vance County in a different direction.”

Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen

McMillen: Social Services Renovation “Coming Together Nicely” For A Late Summer Move-In

/by

Work to transform a former middle school into updated office space for the Vance County Department of Social Services is well underway, and County Manager Jordan McMillen said despite a couple of hiccups, the project is on budget and “coming together nicely.” Move-in dates have been pushed back until late July or August, he added.

Among McMillen’s comments and observations to WIZS News earlier this week, he noted that the renovation project at the former Eaton Johnson Middle School campus is wrapping up – “nearly all of the final finishing touches are currently being completed,” he said.

The flooring has been installed, painting is complete in all but one area, furniture has been installed and the building portion of the project will be nearing completion over the next few weeks, he predicted. The inside work on the building should be finished by mid- to late June – that’s only a couple of weeks behind schedule, he said.

“Contractors ran into unsuitable soils in the parking lot area which delayed most of the site work approximately two months,” McMillen said. Work on the parking lot has resumed after completion of soil testing from outside agencies and, barring weather delays, should be finished in mid- to late July.

Commissioners will hear at their meeting Monday about several change orders that will be recommended, all dealing with HVAC and minor modification in the part of the building that will house the Senior Center.

At this point, the project is about $231,000 under budget, so the change orders – totaling just more than $107,000 – could be absorbed without affecting the overall cost.

Vance County Logo

Town Talk 12/03/20: How to Apply for Winter Heating Assistance in Vance Co.

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Jamila Green, supervisor for Work First and Emergency Services with the Vance County Department of Social Services (DSS), appeared on WIZS Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m.

Green addressed the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ (NCDHHS) announcement that it will issue automated payments to thousands of eligible households, including local residents, to assist with winter heating expenses via the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP).

To be eligible for the LIEAP program, a household must:

  • Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria
  • Have income equal to or less than 130% of the federal poverty limit
  • Have resources, such as saving and checking accounts and cash on hand, at or below $2,250
  • Be responsible for their heating cost

The automated payments began December 1, 2020, and will be issued through March 31, 2021. Payments are designed to help eligible seniors and people with disabilities access winter heating in a safe manner during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a recent press release issued by the NCDHHS, eligible households may qualify to receive an automated payment for the 2020-2021 LIEAP season if a member of the household 1) is age 60 or older or a person with a disability receiving services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services, 2) currently receives Food and Nutrition Services and 3) received LIEAP during the 2019-2020 season. These households were notified of eligibility in November and do not need to apply for this benefit.

Any household with a person age 60 or older or with a disability receiving DAAS services who did not receive notice of an automated payment is encouraged to submit a paper application for LIEAP assistance.

In Vance County, LIEAP applications may be mailed or dropped off at the local DSS office – 350 Ruin Creek Road, Henderson, NC 27536 – or applicants may contact Vance County DSS by phone at (252) 492-5001.

Please visit Vance County DSS online at https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/social-services/ for additional information.

To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Vance County Logo

Vance County DSS Service Changes

/by

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

— courtesy Denita DeVega, MA, Director of Vance County Department of Social Services

Vance County Department of Social Services has adjusted operational protocols in response to advisories regarding social distancing. Until further notice, effective March 24, 2020, face to face interactions will be limited.

Services will continue to be provided via email, fax, telephone, and in person as needed. There is a drop box located at the entrance of DSS available Monday through Friday 8:30AM-5PM. For assistance please continue to call 252-492-5001 and you will be directed to appropriate staff.

If your call is not returned timely, please call the following numbers for assistance 252-492-5001 ext. 3304 or 3307. For additional information on applying for services, requesting information, or making reports, please refer to the contact information below.

Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) – Applications and Recertification’s
Call (252) 492-5001 / Fax (252) 438-5997
Apply online for Food and Nutrition using https://epass.nc.gov

Medicaid
Call (252) 492-5001 then Option #2 / Fax (252) 438-5997
Apply for Medicaid using https://epass.nc.gov or www.healthcare.gov or email your application to teresa.wright@vance.nc.gov.

Medicaid Transportation
Call (252) 492-5001 then Option #4 / Fax (252) 438-5997

The eChild Support Portal provides customers an easy and convenient way to connect with child support services 24-7. Contact www.ncchildsupport.com for more information. For case status update and payment questions you can call Child Support Customer Service at 1-800-992-9457 or our main office at (252)-492-5001.

Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) and Crisis Intervention Program (CIP)
Call (252) 492-5001 then Option #3 or ext. 3900 / Fax (252) 438-5997

Work First (Cash Assistance Applications, Reviews, and Employment Services)
Call (252) 492-5001 Option #7 then Option #2 / Fax (252) 438-5997

Subsidized Child Care Assistance (SCCA)
Call (252) 492-5001 Option #7 then Option #1 / Fax (252) 438-5997

Adult Services, Adult Protective Services, and Services for the Blind
Call (252) 492-5001 / Fax (252) 438-5997
(Call 911 to make a report after hours)

Child Protective Services (CPS) Intake
Call 252-436-0407 Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 5:00pm
After Hours/Weekends: 252-492-0202

Children’s Services-In-Home Services, Foster Care, Adoptions, LINKS, Licensing, Placement, etc.
Call 252-436-0407 Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
After Hours/Weekends: 252-492-0202

Vance County Senior Center
Call (252) 430-0257 / Fax (252) 433-9694

Vance County Logo

Town Talk 08/13/19: What You Need to Know About NC’s Medicaid Transformation

/by

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Vance County Department of Social Services’ Denita DeVega, director, and Goldie Davis, program administrator of economic services, were on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss changes to Medicaid requirements.

As part of the first phase of the Medicaid Transformation, Vance County recipients must enroll in one of four State-approved health plans and select a primary care physician by Friday, September 13, 2019.

“The process for being eligible for Medicaid and maintaining Medicaid remains the same,” Davis said. “You will still go to your local DSS to apply for Medicaid, benefits will still be maintained at your local DSS and your questions can still be answered at DSS.”

Changes to Medicaid requirements will take effect on November 1, 2019.

Medicaid recipients who have not selected a health care plan by the September 13 deadline will have one chosen for them by the State, Davis reported.

According to a recent press release from DSS, a health plan – through Medicaid – is a group of doctors, hospitals and other providers that will work together to provide healthcare to meet collective needs. The goal is for every medical service – physical health, mental health and medicine – to come through the same healthcare plan.

A primary care provider (PCP) should also be selected to assist with health care needs, which could be in the form of a family doctor, clinic or other health care provider.

Recipients who already have a primary care provider may keep the one they have or choose a new one.

“Ideally, what the State wants is for all of the physicians that are currently enrolled and contracted with Medicaid to be enrolled and contracted with all four plans,” Davis explained. “This will give the recipients the liberty to continue with the same primary care physician regardless of which health plan they choose.”

DeVega announced that a series of informational sessions have been scheduled to guide local recipients through the requirements.

These sessions will be held at Vance Co. Department of Social Services at 350 Ruin Creek Rd in Henderson and are scheduled for Monday, August 26, from 9 – 11 a.m. and 2 – 4 p.m., and Tuesday, August 27 from 9 – 11 a.m. and 2 – 4 p.m.

It is recommended that those who are senior citizens bring a trusted family member or friend to assist in the selection process.

If unable to attend the information sessions, an outreach specialist is available for assistance at Vance Co. DSS from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Assistance will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

For a list of doctors for each health plan, or to enroll, visit ncmedicaidplans.gov, use the NC Medicaid Managed Care mobile app or call 1-833-870-5500. A language line is also available.

For eligibility information or with questions about Medicaid’s new requirements, contact Cathy Hope, 252-492-5001 x 3221, Shelonda Boyd, 252-492-5001 x 3266, Shalonda Daye, 252-492-5001 x 3204, or Vance County Department of Social Services, at 252-492-5001.

To hear the Vance Co. DSS interview in its entirety, including an introduction of new director DeVega, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

Vance County Logo

Commissioners Eyeing Former Eaton Johnson Bldg. for Vance Co. DSS

/by

On Thursday, March 28, 2019, at 2:30 p.m, the Vance County Board of Commissioners Properties Committee consisting of Dan Brummitt, Archie Taylor and Gordon Wilder will meet in the Administrative Conference Room of the Vance County Administration Building at 122 Young Street in Henderson.

These commissioners will meet with an architect to discuss the potential move of the Vance County Department of Social Services. Currently located at 350 Ruin Creek Rd. in Henderson, the department has expressed the need for a larger space to better accommodate their services and the number of people they serve.

As to the potential DSS move, Brummitt said, “We are contemplating it and still looking at options. Right now we are focusing on [the former] Eaton Johnson Middle School site. As with everything, we’ve got to look at the cost. No time table has been established.”

“Social Services is very crowded and spread over several locations,” said Wilder. “We want to move into the [former] Eaton Johnson building and are working with architects now to make that happen as soon as possible.”

Shop With A Cop

‘Shop With A Cop’ Deemed a Community Success Story

/by

-Information and photos courtesy the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page Please click here for additional pictures from the event

On Thursday, December 20, 2018, members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson Police Department, Vance-Granville Community College Campus Police, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol participated in the annual Shop with a Cop event at the Wal-Mart in Henderson.

Officers were paired with approximately 44 children and given a budget with which to purchase items for those children. Thanks to donations and sponsorships, many local children are having a Christmas to remember this year.

In addition to $6,000 raised in a fundraiser sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and Maria Parham Health in November, the Vance County Department of Social Services plays a large role in making the annual event a success.

Vance Co. DSS partners with local law enforcement, donates money towards Shop With A Cop and selects the children who participate in the experience through a referral process.

Children that were not selected for Shop With A Cop were matched up with sponsors who contacted the agency. This year, over 100 children will be serviced through sponsorships.