HOW TO HANDLE YFS CONCERNS
Adapted from Foster Family Alliance
FOLLOW THE CHAIN OF COMMAND FIRST
UNLESS a child is in danger--if a child is in danger, call your local county DSS office and report immediately. [Mecklenburg call 980-31-HELPS (43577)]
INCLUDE EVERYONE ON EMAIL
Send an email stating your concerns to the Permanency Planning Social Worker (PP SW) and copying the GAL, your Licensing Worker (LW) and any other case worker.
Always begin with positives and a greeting to the team. Be clear, concise, and factual—offering possible solutions if you see a better alternative than the current situation.
WAIT FOR RESPONSES FROM THE TEAM
General response time is two (2) complete work days.
If the two work days have come and gone, give one more email nudging for the answer with a 24 hour turnaround. You can choose to announce the 24 hour expectation or not, but have that be your timeline before going to the next level.
Hi Ms. ABC, I am just following up on my email from Tuesday. I am still concerned about xyz…
CONTACT SOCIAL WORKER’S SUPERVISOR
You have done your due diligence to your front line social worker waiting 72 hours including a nudge. If the social worker was on vacation, you would have gotten a response. Include this information in your discussion with the supervisor and share your concern(s).
INCLUDE GAL SUPERVISOR
Pull in the GAL Supervisor who will call the social worker/supervisor and get involved.
YFS MANAGEMENT
Call or email the Senior Manager (if known)
- Call or email the Assistant Division Director. As of 9/1/20205, the Mecklenburg Assistant Division Director is:
Anneka Rountree (704-336-3000 or anneka.rountree@mecklenburgcountync.gov) Call or email the Division Director. As of 9/1/2025, the Mecklenburg Division Director is:
Denise Steele-Campbell (980-314-7222 or Denise.SteeleCampbell@mecklenburgcountync.gov)
DIRECTOR OF MECKLENBURG DSS
As of 9/1/2025, the Mecklenburg DSS Director for Family and Adult Services is Kimberly Henderson (Kimberly.Henderson2@mecklenburgcountync.gov)
You can refer here for other counties
NCDHHS STATE OFFICE – CONSTITUENT CONCERNS
Effective 10/1/25, the state NCDHHS office has oversight authority over county DSS and is able to access records and information pertaining to any open or closed (within previous 12 months) child welfare case to inquire into and review any county social work or legal practices of the county for a particular case or all cases. If the state determines that laws and policies are not being followed, they can issue a directive to the local DSS office to remedy the problems. If the issues are not remedied, the state will notify the local Board of County Commissioners.
Submit your concern to:
Constituent Concerns General Line
(919-527-6340 or DSSwebRequestsChildwelfare@dhhs.nc.gov)- Linda Sims, NC DSS Child Welfare Policy Consultant with Constituent Concerns
(919) 527-6340 or linda.sims@dhhs.nc.gov)
REMINDERS
Be calm, factual, and remove your emotions as much as possible.
If calling or attending a meeting, make a list for yourself before contacting anyone to keep your conversation on track.
When the conversation is over, send an email to the person you spoke to thanking them for their time with references to statements and outcomes of the conversation. This is the best way to document the conversation.
For support and to talk through your plan:
specific to Mecklenburg county, email Path to Permanency (info@pathtopermanency.org)
for statewide support (including Mecklenburg), call Foster Family Alliance of NC (800-578-7770).
