GOLDSBORO, N.C. — The Wayne County Department of Social Services is intensifying efforts to educate residents about the wide range of services available to support families and individuals throughout the community. From child welfare programs to energy assistance, the department is working to ensure residents know where to turn for help.

Comprehensive Services Available to Wayne County Residents

According to Kimberly McGuire, Director of the Department of Social Services, the agency focuses on several key program areas designed to serve the community’s most vulnerable populations.

“We have our child welfare services, which would be our child protective services, to include adoption, foster care, those type services,” McGuire explained. “We have our adult services that are similar to child welfare where they investigate adults that may be dependent. And then you have our food and nutrition services, our Medicaid services.”

The department also oversees child support services, which McGuire noted remains “an entity of Wayne County DSS” despite being somewhat privatized.

Energy Assistance Program Helps Families Stay Comfortable

One program the department is particularly focused on promoting is their energy assistance program. “Our energy program, that’s definitely one that we try to get out to our community in trying to assist with any kind of heating or cooling services,” McGuire said.

This program helps Wayne County residents manage utility costs during extreme weather conditions, providing crucial support for families facing financial hardship.

Foster Care Program Seeks Local Families

The department faces an ongoing challenge in recruiting foster families within Wayne County. “When it comes to foster care, trying to identify foster parents in this community, that number of participants that we had has reduced,” McGuire noted. “So just trying to make sure our kids can stay within this community.”

Senikka Caldwell, Program Manager for Child Welfare, reported that community outreach efforts have shown promise. “We did okay with billboards, and we did well with the Juneteenth celebration,” Caldwell said. “And then we have some that just call in and say, hey, I want to be a foster parent, or what do you need to be a foster parent?”

Creative Community Outreach Strategies

Wayne County DSS has implemented innovative approaches to reach residents with information about available services. Over the past year, the department has utilized multiple communication channels to increase awareness.

“Last year we did billboards in each area of the county. Information sessions. We did a pizza box promotion with Brooklyn’s Pizza. We’ve sent information to the doctor’s offices,” McGuire detailed. “So we’ve participated in several of the community events, and  newsletters.” When measuring the effectiveness of these outreach efforts, Caldwell found that direct community engagement proved most successful. “I think by comparing the billboards to the Juneteenth event, I think the Juneteenth event was well, but the billboards were right behind it,” she said.

Annual Foster Care and Adoption Celebration

The department combines recognition of foster and adoptive families with holiday festivities through an annual Christmas celebration. “We combine our foster care Christmas party and adoption awareness together,” Caldwell explained.

The event, typically held at the Goldsboro Event Center, features themed celebrations that engage both families and children. Recent themes have included Polar Express, the Grinch, and Winter Wonderland, with children invited to attend in pajamas for a special viewing experience.

Funding and Additional Resources

McGuire emphasized that the department’s services are supported through federal and state funding rather than grant money, ensuring stable program availability for residents.

For residents seeking more information about any of these services, complete details about all department programs can be found on the Wayne County website. Those with questions about health department services can contact Suzanne Ledoyen at [email protected].

The Department of Social Services continues to encourage Wayne County residents to reach out with questions about available programs and services that might benefit their families or community members in need.