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Thread-Topic: DSS intake efficiency at regional hubs.
From: <governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com>
To: <governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com>
Subject: DSS intake efficiency at regional hubs.
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2015 13:11:29 -0400
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<APP>CUSTOM
<PREFIX>Ms.</PREFIX>
<FIRST>Jennie</FIRST>
<MIDDLE></MIDDLE>
<LAST>McCarthy</LAST>
<SUFFIX></SUFFIX>
<TITLE></TITLE>
<ORGANIZATION></ORGANIZATION>
<ADDR1>710 Pepperhill Circle</ADDR1>
<ADDR2></ADDR2>
<CITY>Myrtle Beach</CITY>
<STATE>SC</STATE>
<ZIP>29588</ZIP>
<EMAIL>jenniemc13@gmail.com</EMAIL>
<PHONE_H>843-283-5952</PHONE_H>
<PHONE_B></PHONE_B>
<ISSUE>GOVE</ISSUE>
<SUBJECT>DSS intake efficiency at regional hubs.</SUBJECT>
<CUSTOM1>216.16.160.201</CUSTOM1>
<MSG>
Dear Governor, 

Last year after the deaths of several children, I wrote and spoke with DSS representative, Pam Rice, about my experiences as a caseworker with Horry County DSS.  One suggestion I made to address the "screening out" of reports that directly lead to abuse and neglect of both children and adults was to remove the process from the counties and assign to regional areas. This was implemented and I wanted to share with you my recent experience in making a report to the regional "HUB" associated with Horry County.
 
On 9/23/15, a 25 year old with developmental disabilities on my case load at Horry County Disabilities and Special Needs, was left at our center by a family with no money, no ID, and very few basic personal care items and two changes of clothes. In contacting our county, Adult Protective Services, as is our policy, when a vulnerable adult is in jeopardy, we were asked if we could bring him to a homeless shelter. We did not feel this was a safe option for him as he has an IQ of 40 and operates on a seven year old level. We were directed to call the regional HUB, which  we did. We explained the situation to the intake worker and were told that she was going to immediately staff the situation with her supervisor and get directly back to us. This occurred over a week ago and needless to say we are still waiting on that call back to at least explain if the case was accepted or "screened out".
Fortunately, we were able to make arrangements to place him with a family member in another county.  We are HOPING that this is a safe environment, as no formal assessment or home visit was completed. 
Long story short, this experience has proven to me that the DSS reporting process remains broken and essentially nothing has changed except the location of the people taking the reports. Sadly, this lack of accountability with in DSS reporting system will lead to additional abuse and likely more deaths. 

Jennie McCarthy
</MSG>

</APP>