Social Work Services

Services for Children & Families

An important health and safety service for our community's children, our staff members are available 24 hours a day year round to receive reports of suspected child abuse and neglect and conduct prompt investigative assessments. When abuse or neglect is determined, our staff works with the family in their home (when safe to do so). Through home based services, staff strive to enable abused and neglected children to remain with their families rather than be placed in foster care.

Foster Care for Children:
Provides homes for children who are removed from their natural homes by the court due to abuse, neglect, abandonment or inability to care for a child by a parent or caretaker. Foster homes protect children while parents or social workers work together to resolve the problems that led to the child's removal. When possible, children are placed in kinship placements approved by the court and family member. If diligent efforts fail and children cannot be returned to their parents, they are placed with relatives or cleared for adoption. 121 children were provided foster care services in FY 2009-10.

CAUSE:
Is a program developed by frontline Sheriff's detectives and social workers that receives and investigates physical and sexual abuse through a team approach. CAUSE serves our children most at risk or harm and works closely with the District Attorney's staff. CAUSE accepts all abuse and neglect reports for Henderson County. If you have reason to suspect a child is being abused or neglected call (828) 697-5572 or (828) 697-4911.

Adoption Services:
Available to all residents of Henderson County, our adoption staff oversee the adoption process from recruiting families to finalizing all legal matters required for a child's permanence. Forty-one children were adopted this fiscal year.

Foster Home Licensing/Support Services:
Our foster home and support staff handle recruitment, training, support services and supervision of foster homes to assure safe and secure care for the children of Henderson County. To learn more about becoming a foster parent please call (828) 694-6252.

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