Local

Changes made to DSS after boy found handcuffed to porch

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — The Union County Human Services detailed the first significant changes it will make after a former Department of Social Services supervisor and her longtime boyfriend were charged with handcuffing a boy to a porch and hanging a dead chicken around his neck.

Deputies arrested Wanda Larson and longtime boyfriend, Dorian Harper in November.
                               
The two were legal guardians for the 11-year old boy.
               
The Executive Director of Human Services, which includes DSS, updated county commissioners Tuesday night on the changes.

The changes include creating a new quality assurance coordinator who will audit child protective services, foster care and adoption work to provide accountability.

Also DSS also reassigned two social worker positions to the child protective services to help handle intake reports.

In addition, a new software system will be installed to better document those reports.

And the DSS Director or Human Services Executive Director will review and approve all foster care cases.

The executive director said these changes are based on preliminary findings by the state, after the county asked it to step in and review the DSS operations.
                               
The state's report has not been finalized.

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