In a move to ensure the safety and well-being of children, North Carolina’s health department is set to temporarily assume control of child welfare services in Davidson County starting Friday.
The decision follows a 2024 investigation triggered by the deaths of four children linked to active or prior child protective services cases, with three fatalities occurring within just two months.
After uncovering evidence of mismanagement, the county was subjected to a corrective action plan that summer. However, state officials report that there has been little improvement since then.
NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai expressed concerns about the ongoing issues, stating, “The continued mismanagement of recent cases, where safety decisions are not made in compliance with child welfare law, rule and policy, has magnified our ongoing concerns about DCDSS’s ability to adequately assess child safety and risk that is vital to the protection of all children in Davidson County,” as outlined in a letter to the county.
County leaders acknowledge the challenges posed by increased caseloads and express support for the state’s intervention. “Demand on child welfare resources has increased dramatically in the last decade. This has placed a great strain on our child protective services program area,” explained Davidson County Manager Casey Smith in a press release. “The County looks forward to working collaboratively with the NC DHHS to reduce caseloads and ensure the safety of children within Davidson County.”
This intervention marks the sixth instance of the state’s takeover of a county’s child welfare system.
