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McDowell County reports rising foster-care placements and highlights AI-assisted fall-prevention pilot
Summary
Human services staff reported an increase in children in county custody (89) and described efforts to expand kinship and foster care. Separately, a $75,000 grant-funded AI pilot (DwellSafe) worked with 62 residents and reduced fear of falling for over 85% of participants, county presenters said.
McDowell County human services officials on April 20 told commissioners they are monitoring a rise in children placed in county custody and are pursuing kinship placements, in-home supports and foster-parent recruitment to prevent unnecessary removals.
Sarah Brewer, speaking for the department, said staff reallocated a position to an in-home services worker to help families before custody removals occur and that the department is using temporary safety providers. Brewer reported the county had "89" children in custody and said the state'required pre-service training for new hires is accessible only in distant locations, which is delaying onboarding and constraining casework capacity.
Why it matters: Commissioners were told the county is emphasizing kinship placements and modest kinship stipend payments ("about $200-$300 per month, depending on age") to encourage relatives to provide safe placements rather than rely on non-kin foster care when feasible.
Fall-prevention pilot: The board also heard a presentation on a fall-prevention pilot led by the McDowell County Senior Center in partnership with county emergency services. Wayan Prever said the program received a $75,000 grant from the National Council on Aging to test an AI-assisted home assessment product, DwellSafe, combined with occupational-therapist review. Of 67 people who signed up, 62 completed the program; 34 had experienced a fall in the prior three months and 28 of those 34 did not have a subsequent fall while participating. Prever said "over 85% of the clients overall had a reduced fear of falling" by project end.
The grant paid for home-safety items (grab bars, shower chairs, raised toilet seats, motion-sensor lighting, threshold ramps) and for equipment for EMS, including binder lifts that ease extraction from narrow rooms. Prever said remaining purchased items are held in county inventory and can be installed for residents in need; DwellSafe assessments remain available to the public on a pay basis through the vendor.
How to access help: Prever directed residents to contact the McDowell County Senior Center or Shannon Jones with the community care paramedic program to request an assessment or assistance with equipment and installation; staff said they would provide cost information for private assessments on request.
Next steps: Human services will continue kinship outreach and foster-parent recruitment; staff will follow up with the board on training access issues and provide cost information on DwellSafe assessments to commissioners.
Source: Presentations by Sarah Brewer and Wayan Prever to the McDowell County Board of Commissioners, April 20.
