An S.C. Department of Social Services investigation following a Socastee infant's death has led state officials to beef up training on case assessment and documentation for Horry County social workers, but the agency declined to say exactly what prompted the response.

The DSS investigated operations in the local office after the Feb. 15 death of 4-month-old Ebony Smith.

The investigation was supposed to determine whether the child was at risk for harm when she was returned to her parents in January after being removed from the home in December 2003.

Police charged both her parents after she died.

"The state director, Kim Aydlette, reacted after the incident by authorizing technical assistance in the county office," said Virginia Williamson, general counsel for DSS. She wouldn't say whether investigators determined the child was at risk when she was returned to the home.

Since Ebony's death, policy staff members from DSS have been giving technical assistance to the local staff to help improve safety for other children in DSS care, Williamson said.

She said the added assistance could help improve local workers' understanding of policy and procedure and help them strengthen good practices, Williamson said.

"Increasing training could make a big difference if it is enforced and if the agency assures that the training is practiced," said Deanne Tilton-Durfee, director of the National Center on Child Fatality Review. "People must be held accountable for case assessments."

Williamson said officials in the Horry County DSS office haven't determined whether anyone will be disciplined in connection to the child's death. David Mincey, director at Horry County DSS, was unavailable for comment Thursday.

Ebony's parents are awaiting trial.

Charlene Dandridge and Wesley Smith are charged with unlawful neglect of a child.

Prosecutors said they could face trial before the end of the year.