Laserfiche WebLink
The hours of operation listed on the Cabarrus County Department of Social <br />Services are Monday through Friday, 8 A.M. until 5 P.M. However, it is not <br />uncommon for social workers and investigators to work beyond those listed hours to <br />ensure that the needs of families and children are met. <br />Some examples of the level of commitment and dedication from the social workers <br />and investigators in the Child Welfare Services Division are listed below: <br />Child Protection Services (Intake and Assessments) <br />Recently two investigators spent the entire night at a local police department <br />assessing the needs of a family /children. The investigators purchased clothing and <br />food while simultaneously working to identify appropriate placements for the <br />children in the family. <br />Foster Care <br />A social worker willingly spent several hours constructing a gen -o -gram regarding a <br />case that involved several sets of parents and caregivers. The gen -o -gram helped the <br />court and the Guardian Ad Litem Program to understand the relationship <br />connections between the children, parents and caregivers. <br />A social worker has consistently provided fruit, water and snacks during Child and <br />Family Team Meetings. This social worker has also provided complete meals for <br />Child and Family Team Meetings that are held after 4 P.M. The social worker pays <br />for these snacks and meals predominately out of her /his own expenses. <br />LINKS <br />The social worker has worked week -ends and after hours to provide innovative <br />experiences and life skills for older children in foster care. Many of the children in <br />foster care do not have the necessary social skills needed to function appropriately <br />in society. As a result, an etiquette class will be offered for the month of January <br />2012 as a LINKS event. <br />In Home Services <br />The social workers that provide these services typically work around a family's <br />schedule. Many families are able to remain in tact due to the long unconventional <br />hours of work, services and methodologies that are provided by the social workers. <br />Intensive Family Preservation Services <br />The social workers that provide these services are also able to keep many families in <br />tact due to the amount of time and services that are provided. <br />Derrick Heath (Program Manager) best described the time and commitment <br />provided by Child Welfare Services as the following: <br />".....this is not a nine to five job. This is a start to finish job." <br />Attachment number 1 <br />1 -1 Page 241 <br />