DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is stepping in to oversee child welfare operations in Davidson County, following troubling findings during a recent state review. This decision comes in the wake of four child fatalities linked to the county’s Department of Social Services (DSS) within a short period in early 2024.
The review, initiated in April 2024 after a child’s death while under the agency’s care, revealed significant deficiencies in how child safety assessments were conducted. Officials discovered that safety assessments effectively ensured child protection in only 40% of reviewed cases. Ongoing communication with families was recorded in just 20% of assessments, raising concerns about supervision practices, which were adequately documented in only 20% of cases.
In response to these findings, Davidson County DSS was placed on a corrective action plan by July 2024. Despite sustained engagement from state officials, progress was insufficient. By November 2025, NCDHHS intensified its oversight, dispatching senior staff and regional specialists to the county to help manage safety decisions, address a backlog of cases, and evaluate the county’s overall capacity to administer child welfare services effectively.
Despite these interventions, state officials reported continued “significant failures” in case management. NCDHHS Secretary Devdutta Sangvai expressed alarm over the ongoing issues, noting that improper decision-making posed a serious risk to the well-being of children in the area. Sangvai emphasized the urgency of the situation, indicating that systemic shortcomings had severely impeded the county’s ability to protect its vulnerable youth.
Concerns were also raised about the accountability and operational integrity of some child welfare staff, alongside a perceived lack of timely action from agency leadership. Although the DSS director has shown support for state intervention, there are concerns that the necessary leadership to effectively stabilize these services has not been demonstrated.
Under state law, NCDHHS has the authority to temporarily manage child welfare operations when systemic shortcomings are identified. This means that the agency will take charge of staffing and case management, effectively relieving the Davidson County DSS director of their duties in these areas.
Sangvai reaffirmed the shared objective of ensuring child safety in the state, stating that this intervention aims to enhance Davidson County’s child welfare practices. NCDHHS has previously assumed control of county social services five other times, indicating a persistent challenge within local systems.
County officials have acknowledged the growing demand on child welfare services, which has placed immense pressure on the existing framework. County Manager Casey Smith highlighted the need for collaboration to address caseloads and better safeguard children.
During this transition, NCDHHS will work to stabilize and improve child welfare services in Davidson County while formulating plans to align operations with state laws and best practices. The duration of this temporary oversight has yet to be determined.