By: Erin Smith
The Bladen County Board of Commissioners met on Monday and adopted a proclamation proclaiming April as Child Abuse Awareness month.
Bladen County Department of Social Services Director Vickie Smith and Child Protective Services Supervisor Jill Sampson attended the meeting and received the proclamation on behalf of the agency.
Smith said the agency also has a Child Abuse Awareness event planned for Saturday, April 30, which will include a walk that will begin at 1 p.m. at San Jose Restaurant in Elizabethtown and end at the courthouse. There will also be various activities taking place at the courthouse that will culminate with the release of balloons in recognition of the children in North Carolina who have died during the past year as a result of child abuse and neglect.
After the presentation, Smith and Brenda Burney also presented the board with an update on the food and nutrition services program at DSS.
Smith said the US Department of Agriculture informed state that as a statewide occurrence the food and nutrition program was not meeting the requirements of timeliness in processing applications for assistance.
“As a whole the state was not meeting the 95 percent goal of processing of applications (for assistance),” said Smith.
Smith said that as a result the state set goals for the departments. She said that for the period of July 2015 through December 2015 to be at 85 percent in timeliness and for the period of January 2016 to June 2016 everyone is to be at 95 percent
Smith explained that the applications for those who meet the criteria for expedited applications must be approved no later than the fourth calendar day so the can have food on the table by the seventh calendar day. She said all other applicants must have their applications processed by the 25th calendar day.
Smith said other areas of concern were ePass applications. These are applications families can make online that can be either mailed in or dropped off at the DSS office.
“We chose to implement a new policy that all applications that are dropped off, the applicant must see a caseworker before they leave so they can go ahead and process the applications,” said Smith.
She also added that staff are also attending training on the time frames and the food and nutrition supervisor and the unit’s lead worker are keeping a daily check on the applications and how quickly they are being processed. She added in addition, they have also aded a new documentation policy.
“These ladies have worked hard,” said Smith.
She said she received a report last week that reflected the hard work of the staff.
The report showed that Bladen County DSS has a timelines rate for Non-expedited applications of 97 percent; expedited applications are processed at a rate of 100 percent; and all applications are being processed at a rate of 97.67 percent.
Smith said that it is a statewide issue and that 20 counties are struggling with timeliness in processing the applications. The consequences could mean about an $80 million loss in funds.
Smith also touched on changes coming to the Food Stamp program this summer regarding a program known as ABods or Able Bodied persons. Smith said the requirements will change and those that are able bodied and not working will have to show they are either looking for work or are employed in order to receive their benefits.
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