News Report | April 30, 2017
North Carolina Lawmakers Propose Shifting From County-Based To Regional Foster Care Model
On April 4, 2017, North Carolina lawmakers introduced legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 594, to implement foster care reform by shifting the child welfare system and the Division of Social Services (DSS) from a county-based model to a regional model by 2022. Currently, DSS has an office in each of the state’s 100 counties. SB 594 calls for establishing a working group of county commissioners, social services workers from state and county departments, court officials, attorneys, and other concerned professionals. The goal is to develop 30 DSS regions by 2019.
Additionally, SB 594 calls for specific changes affecting foster . . .