UNION COUNTY, N.C. — A Whistleblower 9 investigation has uncovered a scathing report out of Union County that is highly critical of the Department of Social Services.
Investigative reporter Paul Boyd obtained internal documents that paint a bleak picture of DSS, despite highly-touted reform efforts after a scandal hit in 2013.
This Union County employee survey suggests there continues to be a high level of dysfunction and frustration within the DSS.
The 2015 report evaluated the functionality and working conditions within 12 Union County departments based on anonymous employee responses.
The DSS ranked at the very bottom.
Union County DSS made headlines in 2013 when they announced new reform efforts after a case worker -- Wanda Larson -- turned a blind eye to the abuse of an 11-year-old boy in her care.
The boy was found handcuffed on his porch with a dead chicken around his neck.
The report indicates that systemic issues continue at the agency almost three years later.
Employees as a whole responded to a majority of questions with negative answers.
For example, they do not believe that "senior managers understand what is really happening at Union County."
And they disagree that "Union County is going in the right direction."
The report also suggests frustration and dysfunction in that employees don’t experience "good inter-departmental cooperation at Union County."
The head of DSS, Richard Matens, resigned last week to pursue another job.
Whistleblower 9 showed the documents to several Union County residents who expressed concern over the results.
"Some heads need to go. Somebody needs to go," Lane Helms said.
"They need someone that's going to really help the kids and the community and look into the situation that's really going on," Danielle Blunt said.
Whistleblower 9 asked Union County officials if they wanted to provide some context to these internal documents. They responded that they would not be making a comment.
Cox Media Group
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