Mismanagement at DSS prompts state takeover
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has taken over the Davidson County Department of Social Services due to the “mismanagement of cases” and inadequate safety decisions following the death of several children.
On Jan. 15, NCDHHS representative sent a letter to the Davidson County Manager, Davidson County DSS Board chairman and the director of Davidson County DSS, saying the state has “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”.
Representatives for NCDHHS also said they had “serious concerns about the accuracy, integrity and transparency of information provided by some of the child welfare staff” and the failure of Davidson County DSS leadership to take “timely, appropriate action to fully investigate and address these concerns”.
They said while the director of DCDSS, Trish Baker, has supported and assisted the state investigation, she has not “exhibited the leadership necessary to stabilize child welfare in the county and to address other challenges that exist in the agency”.
"Demand in child welfare resources has increased dramatically in the last decade. This has placed a great strain on our child protective services program area. The County looks forward to working collaboratively with the NC DHHS to reduce caseloads and ensure the safety of children within Davidson County," said Davidson County Manager Casey Smith.
In June 2024, NCDHHS began a review of child welfare services in Davidson County after learning about the death of a child previously involved with social services. This initial review revealed numerous concerns for the safety and well-being of children involved with child welfare services, according to the state.
According to NCDHHS, Davidson County had three additional fatalities of children with open child protective services cases within a two-month timeframe (April 23, 2024 – June 13, 2024).
The state said after working with staff, it was determined that only 40% of safety assessments were adequate; only 20% of cases had ongoing contact with families, and only 33% of in-home cases were reviewed. Also, only 60% of cases had documentation on facts and decision making.
Following this review, Davidson County DSS was placed on a state-mandated corrective action plan.
In November2025, Davidson County DSS was notified that the state was escalating the corrective action plan due to “lack of progress” and a team was deployed to the county to “acutely oversee” the county’s delivery of child protective services.
During this time, this team gathered further information which “magnified the Department's concerns about the county's capacity to deliver child welfare services in accordance with law, rule and policy”, according to NCDHHS.
In the letter sent to Davidson County leadership on Jan. 15, the state said it has “reached the limit of its ability to continue to make progress without divesting the director of her authority over child welfare and assuming temporary control”.
During this interim period, NCDHHS said it will work with county staff to manage and stabilize child welfare services as well as develop a plan to bring it into compliance with all applicable laws and appropriate practices.
This includes overseeing all decisions, such as intake and safety assessments; addressing backlogged cases; overseeing employees to ensure adequate safety and risk assessments; guidance for in-home supervisors; developing departmental communication expectations, standard operating procedures and processes; and assessing the capacity to oversee the administration of child welfare services.
"We all have the same goal, to ensure every child in North Carolina is safe and has the resources they need to thrive," said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. "This critical and urgent action will allow us to work with Davidson County leadership to strengthen the county's practice, delivery and administration of child welfare services."
