Residents press Beaufort County commissioners for greater child‑welfare oversight; board asks state legislators to review process

A large group of residents used the public‑comment period to describe personal experiences with child‑welfare cases in Beaufort County and to demand more oversight. Several speakers delivered detailed allegations that children were removed without adequate process, that court hearings and parental protections had been insufficient, and that families had suffered long‑term harm. Sarah Lee, a family‑integrity advocate, referenced federal Families First legislation and suggested local legal avenues and education for commissioners on risk and protective factors.

In response Commissioner Stan Deatherage proposed a board resolution asking Beaufort County’s state legislators to draft legislation to strengthen oversight and judicial due process for child‑welfare removals. The discussion was contentious and procedural: County staff and the county attorney noted that Chapter 7B of the General Statutes and judicial review already establish investigatory and removal processes, and the manager said state DSS had completed a recent review of local files. Commissioners disagreed on whether the complaint is primarily a local oversight failure or a matter for the General Assembly and on whether the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners should be the vehicle for change. The board ultimately moved to send a version of the resolution forward, with debate focused on the precise wording and whether to remove paragraphs seen as accusatory. The resolution's text and the route to the legislature were left for further action and clarification.