DSS reports staffing strains, hurricane relief funds; commissioners approve emergency funding allocation

Burke County’s Department of Social Services (DSS) reported monthly operations, staffing challenges and details of state‑allocated Hurricane Helene relief funds at the Jan. 7 pre‑agenda meeting; the Board of Commissioners approved a budget amendment to accept and distribute the emergency funding.

DSS staff (Amanda, Corinne and Corey) briefed commissioners on personnel, programs and the county’s allocation of state disaster relief funds. The department reported 182 children in foster care and about 287 active Child Protective Services (CPS) cases for the first eleven months of the year. Staff said 44 children entered foster care in November and eight exited foster care that month (five via adoption, two reunifications and one aging out). DSS staff described recruitment and retention as ongoing challenges and said they are actively interviewing and extending conditional offers for several positions.

Amanda reported economic‑services caseloads: the county served 11,981 Food and Nutrition Services recipients in November and distributed nearly $3,000,000 in those benefits that month. Core Medicaid caseload figures were also provided; Amanda said the county serves roughly 29,000 Medicaid recipients.

Corey and Corinne reviewed the state’s disaster relief allocation tied to Hurricane Helene. Staff said Burke County’s total allotment was “a little over $900,000” and that the allocation is divided into three pots: an essential services fund (child welfare and adult services allotments were stated in the presentation), rental assistance, and additional energy assistance funds. Staff said the essential services allocation includes funds for child welfare ($263,000) and adult services ($131,000). The rental assistance and energy assistance amounts were described in the presentation; staff said the energy assistance portion is roughly $441,000. Staff recommended the board approve receipt and use of the funds so DSS can begin administering assistance to residents impacted by the hurricane.

Commissioners asked whether the board could act at the pre‑agenda meeting to accept the funds and enact a budget amendment. After staff said the matter could be decided, a commissioner moved to approve the emergency funding related to Hurricane Helene. The motion carried on a 5–0 voice vote.

DSS also reported on program outcomes and community supports: the county’s childcare subsidy audit resulted in a 98.06 percent score with no financial corrections; DSS described new after‑hours support specialists to reduce worker burnout and cited community donations supporting a holiday assistance program that reached nearly 260 people.

Ending: The board approved a budget amendment to accept the state disaster allocation and authorized DSS to begin using the funds for essential services, rental assistance and energy assistance for hurricane‑impacted residents; staff will present the formal budget amendment during the regular meeting process.