happy children 

Reaching Out

 

Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services


February  2012
In This Issue
Health & Human Services Conference
Disproportionality
Memorial Walk
DSS - A Trauma Informed Agency
Stamp Out Human Trafficking
DSS Community Support Liaisons
Reid Park Academy
Youth Civics & Youth Summit
ePASS
Westlaw and Lexis Nexis

Our Mission

To provide economic and social services to sustain and/or improve the quality of life for Mecklenburg County citizens.

Our Vision

To be an involved and recognized leader in human services, valued by our stakeholders because of our needs-based customer focus in the delivery of services.  We will help create a resilient community by proactively investing in our employees, operations and services, and by developing impactful relationships for the benefit of our customers.

Hours and Locations

Contact Us
704-336-3000
  
Hours
Mon.-Thur. 8am-6pm
Fri. 8am-5pm
  
Locations
Kuralt Centre
301 Billingsley Road
  
Valerie C. Woodard Center
3205 Freedom Drive
County Seal large
 
Community locations where you can find our staff periodically during the month.
Ada Jenkins Center
Access Center
Asian American Library
Crisis Assistance Ministry
C.W.Williams
Dilworth Soup Kitchen
Goodwill
Jacobs Ladder
Jail North and Jail Central
Latin American Coalition
Hindu Center
Hope Haven Service Center
Matthews Help Center
McCreesh Place
My Sister's House
Salvation Army Center of Hope
Uptown Men's Shelter
YWCA

Message from the Director

Dear Partner,

Mary Wilson

 

Providing a safe and secure environment where children and young adults can grow and flourish is a major focus for social services. This focus manifest itself in our direct services and the multiple innovative efforts we are involved in.

 

Below you will see information about the 2012 Health and Human Services Conference. I encourage everyone to attend this local awareness event which focus on services for children and families.  I am planning on having a strong contingent of DSS workers in attendance.

 

I am looking forward to serving as the morning plenary speaker and would like to personally invite you to the attend to listen to our luncheon speaker Dr. David Miller which will increase discussions in our community about Race and Class:  Implications for the Social Work Profession.

    

This conference will be an interactive experience where helping professionals share knowledge, wisdom, information and resources that builds healthy relationships for the benefit of the community.

 

Workshop Sessions are as follows:

  • How to Work with Difficult Clients
  • Strategies for Working Effectively with Male Youth
  • Ethical Considerations for the Mental Health Professional
  • Strategies for Building an Evidenced Based and Outcome Driven Social Service Program
  • Strategies for Working with Older Adults and Seniors

This event and others listed in this edition are awareness efforts and innovations in our service practice will lead to tomorrows client successes.

 

  

Mary E. Wilson

Director 

301 Billingsley Rd. 

Charlotte, NC 28210

[email protected]

 

Health & Human Services 2012 Conference
   

 Healt and Human Services Logo
 

 

The Health and Human Services 2012 Conference is presented by ForeSight Leadership Training and the Department of Social Work at Johnson C. Smith University will be held on Friday, March 2, 2012 at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1000 East Morehead Street, Charlotte, NC 28204.

 

The theme of this conference is: Race and Class: Implications for the Social Work Profession.

 

Morning Plenary Speaker:    Mary Wilson, Director

                                          Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services

 

Luncheon Speaker: Dr. David Miller, Associate Professor

                             Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences

                             Case Western Reserve University

                             "Race and Class: Implications for the Social Work Profession"

 

This conference is open to:  Social workers, students in social work programs, case managers, health and human service practitioners, licensed professional counselors, mental health professionals, educators, faith community and anyone interested in the conference offerings.

 

For more information click here:  Health and Human Services Conference 

Disproportionality
 

Mecklenburg County data is similar to national data trends showing the presence of Disproportionality in child welfare, juvenile justice and disparate minority contact in school disciplinary actions and the criminal justice systems.  Stakeholders from these systems have come together as the Race Matter's for Juvenile Justice (RMJJ) Committee.  This group has been meeting to raise awareness on the important issue of Disproportionality in Mecklenburg County and to develop a strategic plan to address this issue. 

 

The RMJJ Committee members received a technical assistance Compression Planning session from Casey Family Programs in October 2011 and completed the Undoing Racism training course in January 2012.  A subcommittee of RMJJ is currently gathering data from stakeholder agencies and will analyze this data to develop and finalize the strategic plan.   RMJJ is beginning to have conversations about the need and opportunity to bring to bear additional resources to support the goal of reducing and eliminating Disproportionality in our systems. To build our individual and collective understanding of racial inequities, disparities and disproportionality within our society local leaders are debriefing the training discussing next steps.

Memorial Walk and Family Fun Day
    

The Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Coalition will be kicking off Child Abuse Awareness and prevention month!  Let's join together with Charlotte parents, agencies and organizations devoted to protecting children and strengthening families at the annual Memorial Walk and Family Fun Day.  The event will take place Saturday, March 31st , from 10:00am-12 noon at our Children's Walkway, Frazier Park, 1201 W. 4th Street, Charlotte, NC.  Hope to see you there! 

 

Memorial Walk 

 

DSS - A Trauma Informed Agency

 

A committee of 20 staff throughout Mecklenburg Department of Social Services has been formed to address DSS and its stakeholders in becoming trauma-informed.  Each division of DSS - Services For Adults, Youth & Family Services, Community Resources, Business Affairs and Economic Services - is involved in this process.  Three subcommittees have been formed to address the following:

 

        Policy and Procedure

        Training

        Identifying and addressing secondary trauma with staff

         

Each Committee Member and staff will be trained on "Becoming a Trauma-Informed Agency".  The training will consist of the following curriculum:

 

        The impact of violence on children's lives.

        The role of diversity and culture in victimization and treatment.

        Trauma-focused assessment tools for children victimized by violence

        Trauma-focused evidence-based treatments for children exposed to violence.

 

Committee members are being trained through The American Psychological Association to facilitate the training.

 

Training to all staff will begin in late April 2012.

 

Stamp Out Human Trafficking by Chris McSwain

   

I am involved with the Women's Ministry at Central Church of God. We are sponsoring our second annual 5K on March 24, 2012 to raise awareness of and to stamp out human trafficking. If you are interested in participating, please register here and follow the submission information.  If you are interested in being a sponsoring click here

 

We look forward to hearing from you!

 

Community Partner Spotlight - Community Resource Connection

 

The Services for Adults Division is collaborating with the Mecklenburg Community Resource ConnecGandfather and Granddaughtertions for Aging and Disabilities (CRC) and local hospitals, CMC and Presbyterian, to pilot a Care Transitions program.   The CRC is a coordinated information, assistance and referral system for all older adults, people with disabilities, and their formal and informal caregivers. 

The Care Transitions project is designed to connect the high risk population to community resources.  The purpose of the pilot is to reduce 30-day readmissions for high risk populations by providing a bundled service package, which includes in-home meals, in-home aide services, and transportation. The pilot programs target population will be for Mecklenburg County residents 60 and older who have co-morbidity diagnoses (such as COPD, diabetes, congestive heart failure).   Additional risk factors considered are living alone and/or having a caregiver, but also having mobility and/or cognitive limitations. The time frame for the pilot program is April to June 2012.

 

Community Collaboration:  Reid Park Academy

 

 

Reid Park Academy has launched a pilot initiative to provide holistic wraparound services and supports to students and families.  The goals of the project are to strengthen student and family well-being and to improve school achievement.  The initiative involves collaboration across agencies, families and youth and is based on the System of Care Philosophy:

  • Family Driven and Youth Guided
  • Strengths Based and Individualized
  • Culturally and Linguistically Competent
  • Evidence Based and Data Driven
  • Community Based with Natural Supports

 

Six Lead Agencies, including the Department of Social Services, will work with families and school staff to create individualized plans to address student needs.  Each student will have a Child and Family Team that consists of people chosen by the family to help them through informal, formal and community support and service relationships.  Many other agencies have agreed to provide supportive services to this initiative.  The initiative is guided by a Community Leadership Team that consists of non-profit providers, agency directors, school personnel, faith community representatives, and other key community stakeholders.

 

The early phase of the initiative has received favorable reactions from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Board of Education and the Mecklenburg County Manger's Office.

 

This innovative approach will provide a cohesive and accessible range of services and resources that low-income and other at-risk students often desperately need to succeed, academically, socially emotionally, physically and mentally.

 

 

Youth Civics & Youth Summit

   

High School student?  Taking Civics?  Then Youth Civics is for you!  Learn about government.graduates 
See it in action.  Check out the court system and participate in a mock trial.  Learn where government gets money, and how budget decisions are made.  Explore politics, careers and more!  for High School students that want to learn more about government.  Pre-registration is required and space is limited.  Click here:  Youth Civics Information   

 

 

High School Students!  Join us for the 4th Annual Youth Summit.  This is a great opportunity for you to collaborate, build relationships skills and discuss ways to make a difference on government policies, issues and decisions that impact YOU!  Students, leaders and emerging leaders, Youth Summit Information

 

 

ePASS  North Carolina

 

 

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS

 

ePASS2 

Using Westlaw and Lexis Nexis to find kinship placements

 

Caring for children is one of the most important jobs of every community. Relatives play an essential role in helping to meet the needs of children who are unable to live with their parents.  Using kinship caregivers as an option for placement significantly reduces the amount of trauma a child faces by placing them in a familiar setting, closer to the family, neighborhood, and culture that they know best.  Additionally, children experience more frequent and consistent contact with parents and experience greater stability. The use of internet search tools, Westlaw and Accurint as a kinship strategy provides YFS staff an opportunity to identify and engage family members and other adults who are connected to children involved with child protective services. 

 

All cases accepted for an Investigative Assessment, utilize Westlaw or Accurint as a collaborative process for a successful assessment which can lead to more appropriate interventions as well as kinship placement if deemed necessary. For ongoing services beyond the Investigative Assessment, workers make ongoing efforts to locate and engage absent parents and relatives of the child or children by requesting a Westlaw or Accurint search on a monthly basis. These efforts will continue throughout the life of the case.  Additionally, a Westlaw/Accurint report is completed when a relative/non-relative appears in court requesting to be a placement to the child.

 

Currently, supervisors are tracking relative placements as a result of Westlaw or Accurint searches on a monthly basis.

 

 Submit stories and events to [email protected]
  
REMEMBER, 

We rely on you to help provide us with content, ideas, and feedback as we work together to serve those who depend upon us for services. If you have a story to share about the good work you do for the community please submit to [email protected].

 

Please submit your story by the 1st Wednesday of the month.