Social Workers in the Family and Children Services Division use a variety of resources to help a family strengthen their capacity to protect and nurture their children.

These are services available through the Department of Social Services.

• Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention: The Teen-Up and Upward Connection programs aim to reduce teen pregnancy. These programs, in-school and after-school, are provided to children and adolescents, ages 10-17.



• Adoption Services: Provided to birth parents, children in need of adoption, and adoptive parents by Family Builders of Catawba Valley. Also provides post adoption services.



• At Risk Case Management: A group of interrelated activities under which responsibility for locating, coordinating, and monitoring appropriated services for an individual is provided by a case manager. Children receiving Child Protective Services are eligible to receive ARCM services to be provided by the treatment worker as long as there is no other case manager handling the case. Children must be Medicaid eligible.



• Catawba Valley Legal Services: Provides legal assistance in civil matters (non-criminal matters) to eligible, low-income clients who have problems with their basic needs and live in the five-county area surrounding Morganton, NC: Alexander County, Burke County, Caldwell County, Catawba County, and McDowell County. Ph. 1-800-849-5195. Click here to access Legal Aid of NC



• Child Support Enforcement: Assure that children receive adequate parental support by locating absent parents, establishing paternity, medical and financial support, and enforcing court ordered support obligations. Ph. 828-695-4405.



• Cognitive Connections: Provides a variety of mental health and other services for victims of violent crimes and their assailants, victims of abuse or neglect, adolescents and adults with alcohol and drug abuse problems, high school drop-outs, and adults who are hard to employ or have trouble keeping a job. Ph. 828-327-6026.



• Day Care: Ensures safe, quality, accessible, and affordable child care for children in Catawba County, supporting the independence of families by enabling responsible adults to secure and maintain employment and meet the basic needs of their children. Ph. 828-695-5721.



• Early Childhood Support Team (Smart Start Program): Team works with children enrolled at selected day care sites to identify social, health, and psychological needs of children. Assures that children are academically, physically, socially and developmentally ready to begin school at the child's best level of ability.



• Employment Programs: Provides training and job placement for Public Assistance recipients and low income individuals. The employment programs are based on the promise that all people have a responsibility to their families and their community to work and provide for their children. The employment programs are : Work First, Food Stamp Employment and Training, and Job placement services. Job Placement service are funded through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG).



• Family NET: Provides mental health services to children, adolescents, and their families. Offers community support, intensive in-home, and post-adoption services, as well as psychological testing, psychiatric evaluation, and medication monioring. Substance abuse services are offered for children, adolescents and adult female clients. Ph. 828-695-6500.



• HEART: The H.E.A.R.T. Family Activity Center aims to meet the many needs and interests of all family members, from all cultural backgrounds. Operating from two side-by-side apartments in the Hilltop complex in Long View, the Center welcomes anyone. An employee is available throughout the week during open hours and for events taking place on weekends. Services are free of charge. Ph. 828-324-5778.



• LINKS: A variety of services that help youth who are in DSS custody prepare for adulthood.



• Mental Health Partners: Manages mental health services in Catawba County, and ensures that citizens have access to the best available mental health services. Ph. 828-327-2595 or 1-877-327-2593.



• Nurturing Program: Intensive 18 week parenting course designed to promote positive parenting techniques to assure family preservation and to provide therapeutic support to parents whose children may reside in foster care.



• Residential Child Care Programs: Substitute child care for youth who must live outside their own families. Professional staff provide care and treatment while permanent plans are made for each child.



• School Social Work: Social Work services are provided to 13 elementary schools and Catawba Valley High School through multi-disciplinary Department of Human Resources Teams. Ph. 828-695-4418.



• Work First Program: Temporary financial/medical assistance to low income families. Requires cooperation with the Child Support Program and involvement with the Employment and Training Program. Unlike the old AFDC program, Work First is not an entitlement program. Ph. 828-695-5621.

• Catawba County Health Department: Provides such services as Cancer Screening/Adult Health Clinic, Chest Clinic; Cholesterol Screening; Diabetic Screening; Family Planning Clinic; High Risk Prenatal Clinic; Prenatal Clinic; Pregnancy Testing; Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic; WIC; Gyn. Clinic; Foreign Travel Immunizations and Hepatitis B; Child Health Clinic; Immunizations clinic; WIC; Health Education; School Health; Dental Health; and Child Service Coordination. Ph. 828-695-5800.
  
  
• Developmental Disabilities Services Including: Early Childhood Intervention Services; Respite; Residential; Adult Developmental Disabilities Program, Community Alternatives Program; and Outpatient counseling. Ph. 828-695-5609.
  
  
• City of Hickory Public Housing: Provides decent, safe, and sanitary housing for low income families. Ph. 828-328-5373.
  
  
• Consumer Credit Counseling Services: A program through Family Guidance Center which provides confidential, professional financial counseling to resolve debt problems, budget counseling, money management, consumer education , and community educational presentations. Ph. 828-322-7161. Click here for the Family Guidance Center
  
  
• Cooperative Christian Ministry (CCM): Provides crisis assistance with food, clothing, household items and financial (utilities, rent, medical, and fuel). Pharmacy is open to qualified clients. Thrift room offers clothing and household items at minimal prices. Referral to other agencies. Ph. 828-327-0979.
  
  
• Children's Developmental Services Agency (CDSA): Provides diagnostic testing and evaluation of children, birth to age 3, who are at risk for or exhibit developmental or learning problems. Ph. 828-432-5430. Click here to access NC Early Intervention
  
  
• Eastern Catawba County Christian Ministry (ECCCM): Emergency help for food, clothing, utilities, fuel, medicine, rent, etc. Sponsors ABE Class and Head Start Program, Referral to other agencies. Ph. 828-465-1702.
  
  
• Family Care Center: Short term residential program, offering physical, emotional, social, educational, and financial services to assist families in transition to becoming self sufficient. Ph. 828-324-9917.
  
  
• Family Guidance Center: Provides individual and family counseling and parent education. Also provides Big Brother/Big Sister Programs, Consumer Credit Counseling Services, and First Step Domestic Violence Services. Ph. 828-322-1400.
  
  
• First Step Domestic Violence Services: 24 hour crisis assistance; counseling for women who are of have been in abusive relationships; emergency shelter for abused women and their children; court accompaniment for victims; court advocacy; support group for women; treatment group for men who abuse their mates. Ph. 828-322-1400 Nights and Weekends 828-228-1787. Click here to access the Family Guidance Center
  
  
• Juvenile Court Counseling: Works with youth and their families to help prevent and reduce juvenile crime and delinquency. Court counselors act as juvenile probation offices and work with undisciplined juveniles who are placed under protective supervision and with delinquent juveniles who are placed under court supervision. In each case, a juvenile's need for treatment and service is identified and local resources are mobilized. Ph. 828-328-4921; Newton 828-466-5671. NC Dept of Juvenile Justice and Deliquency Prevention
  
  
• Salvation Army: Provides emergency assistance with utilities, housing costs, food, fuel, clothing. Homeless shelter and transient lodge for singles and families. Spiritual counseling available. After school care, summer day camp and Community Center for school age children. Furniture and household items provided for fire victims. Ph. 828-322-8061.

Back to Family & Children's Services