Robbinsville – Graham County DSS Director Cris Weatherford attended his first Board of Directors meeting since joining the DSS in August on Tuesday night.
“I’ve been settling in,” Weatherford said. “I’m learning the nuts and bolts of how the office works, things like performance measures and working with staff.”
The DSS is also re-establishing relationships with key state staff members, including the Smoky 7 – the seven county directors of social services in the western part of the state.
“They’ve all been helpful and available when we’ve needed them,” said Weatherford.
Weatherford notified the board that all Food and Nutrition Services will be issued early this month due to Hurricane Dorian.
FNS cards will be issued early statewide rather than just in affected areas. He has also been working closely with Sheriff Jones, planning to attend mutual trainings, the first of which will focus on recognizing and preventing human trafficking.
Other news and notes from Tuesday’s meeting included ...
*Adult Protective Services has a vacancy. The DSS is seeking applications and contacting people for interviews.
*Last month, Child Protective Services returned two children to their homes, “which is always the best outcome.” CPS currently has 29 children in custody.
Two foster homes have recently become licensed and seven more are in the process.
*Weatherford explained that the childcare subsidy is “still frozen” and scheduled for review Tuesday, Sept. 17. Robin Story will handle the review, and no issues are foreseen.
*Child Support Services are at 97.28 percent for paternity establishment and exceeding the goal of 87 percent for cases under requirement at 89 percent. CSS currently has 263 cases, three of which were new cases for July.