Caller alleges child-welfare failures after infant’s death; commissioners hear public concern but take no immediate action

An advocate for child-welfare oversight told the Person County Board of Commissioners on July 21 that a one-year-old child named in court records, Kimari Morgan, died after being placed in an unlicensed foster home the speaker said had been used for months.

Amanda Wallace, who identified herself as the founder of a Durham-based organization and spoke during the meeting’s informal comment period, said she reviewed court filings and alleged the child had been placed with an individual whose foster license had lapsed and that the child’s mother and attorney were not present at a court hearing noted in the motion she cited. Wallace asked who in county government would be held accountable for alleged practice failures and named county staff by title as present in the meeting room. Her remarks raised questions about county Department of Social Services practice, placement oversight and court process as described in the public comment.

Commissioners did not take formal action during the public comment period. The record shows that the board allowed the one-minute-30-second speaker slot; staff members present included the human services assistant director, who was identified in the record and noted as attending. The board did not enter a related agenda item or a formal investigation based on the public comment during the July 21 meeting.

County staff and the board have statutory and legal responsibilities for child-welfare operations; any formal review, investigation, or policy change would require staff follow-up, a request by the board, or referral to the county’s human services director, county manager, or the state Department of Health and Human Services. The transcript records the allegation on the public record; commissioners and staff are expected to follow up as appropriate under existing procedures.