Health & Human Services

Richmond County Health Department Richmond County Social Services
127 Caroline Street 125 Caroline Street
Rockingham, NC 28379 Rockingham, NC 28379
(910) 997-8301 (910) 997-8400

Social Services Wins Community Engagement Award!

The Innovation Award for Community Engagement was presented Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the North Carolina Association of County Directors of Social Services’ annual Social Services Institute.

The awards, according to the NCACDSS website, “provide an opportunity to recognize innovative, successful, and unique programs within county Social Services offices and share these innovations with other counties and the public.”

Richmond County Social Services won the award because of their innovative alternative to keeping children in the agency by partnering with a local 24-hour daycare, allowing children who are living in the agency and are of daycare age to spend the night there instead of sleeping in the agency.

Smith accepted the award along with Linda Collins, program manager for Child Protective Services.

Public Notice: LIHEAP Block Grant Plan

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides heating, crisis, and weatherization assistance. States are given broad latitude under block grant funding to design and operate their own programs, under certain restrictions.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is seeking public comments on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Block Grant Plan, which outlines how the federal LIHEAP block grant funds will be spent in North Carolina in federal fiscal year 2025- 2026. The Administration of Children and Families allowed North Carolina the option to clone the plan from last year and make updates.

The plan may be viewed from June 23- 27, 2025, at the following locations:

• Online on the Division of Social Services website https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/public-notices

• On all 100 Counties DSS websites

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/local-dss-directory

The Public Hearing webinar will take place on Monday, June 30, 2025, to go over the Block Grant Plan and address any questions, comments, or concerns. Please use the link below to register.

Please register for LIHEAP Model Plan 2025 public hearing on June 30, 2025, 10:30 AM EDT at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8921224490561173850

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Comments will be accepted until 5 pm on Monday, June 30, 2025. Comments can be emailed to Jasmyne Simmons at Jasmyne.Simmons@dhhs.nc.gov and Emma Burgy at Emma.Burgy@dhhs.nc.gov.