Robbinsville – Shannon Eller has began working as a part-time, foster care case-worker, according to an announcement made during Dec. 10’s Graham County Department of Social Services Board of Directors meeting.
The DSS has made a referral Vanguard to help locate a Foster Care Supervisor until a permanent candidate can be hired. Linda Forman, new supervisor for Food Nutrition/Program Integrity, will start Dec. 30 and comes “highly recommended.”
“I think she brings some valuable supervising experience to this unit,” said DSS Director Cris Weatherford.
Other news and notes from the meeting included …
* After presenting the monthly report, Weatherford reported that the Nov. 15 state representative’s review of the Adult Protective Services Program found that APS has satisfied necessary requirements and is now able to come off the Program Improvement Plan. The DSS also has plans to hire a new APS worker.
* Since the last court date, Child Support Services has seen the number of cases under order increase by three percent. Weatherford acknowledged an ongoing issue with timely service and will be speaking to Sheriff Joseph Jones about remedying the situation.
* The Medicaid unit will see continued training as the department prepares for a massive review in the form of the REDA Recipient Eligibility Determination Audit in 2021. The audit will include the state pulling 20 cases per month for three years, with any errors resulting in county payback. Even with a full year to prepare, Weatherford said that the 2021 audit will be “a huge burden on this unit.”