Editor’s Note: Sunshine Request makes no claim as to the veracity of any statements or information contained in any of the requests, or public records, we receive.
Other (indicate in message) Submitted: May 8, 2023 | Updated: June 22, 2023
(May 2023) Multi-part request for Yancey County, NC Department of Social Services: Related to the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”. 01/01/2023 – 04/28/2023.
Hello Sonya (or Yancey County, NC DSS. Records Officer),
I’d like to make a multi-part public records request for the following information under NC Public Records Law
Ref: https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bychapter/chapter_132.html
** I am simply requesting an electronic copy of an electronic record, if one exists. I am NOT asking to come in person to inspect, nor to obtain a printed copy of, this electronic record. I’m requesting explicitly that any responsive info be provided to me via an electronic medium / format (in which the copy of this record should already exist).
I do not have any additional or further clarifying info to provide to narrow this request, other than what you see in the message below. If it is unclear, or you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of this request, please specifically cite where a reason for denial is justified under NC Public Records Law.**
This request is related to Yancey County, NC DSS and the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”.
For ALL of the items requested below, the searchable time period for the responsive records should be January 01, 2023 through April 28, 2023. Please DO NOT include any personally identifying information about recipients (such as name, address, case #, etc.) Sunshine Request will not publish this type of info:
1) I believe that Yancey County Department of Social Services [DSS] recently performed an internal audit of their title IV-E files ahead of the 2024 state audit. Upon completion of the audit, errors from DSS staff were identified causing the DSS managers and DSS director to terminate Adoption Assistance payments, which automatically includes Medicaid, to these families that adopted special needs children.
With this in mind – I’m asking that you please provide a total of the errors, broken down by year. [For example – “4 errors in 2022, 5 errors in 2021, 1 error in 2020” , etc.]
2.A1) Please provide the total number of families whose Adoption Assistance benefits were terminated based on errors found during the internal audit.
2.A2) Please provide copies of the termination letters mailed to these families.
2.A3) Please provide the total number of appeals requested from the families that had their benefits terminated.
3) Please provide and cite the specific State Statute permitting the termination of Adoption Assistance benefits by a local DSS agency based on staff paperwork errors.
4) If such a record exists – Please provide copies of all memos between Management and Social Workers directing the termination of benefits to special needs families receiving Adoption Assistance funding.
5) If such a record exists – Please provide copies of all email communications exchanged between DSS and the Social Services Board and County Commissioners stating that cash assistance and Medicaid was being terminated to families who adopted special needs children.
——————
Please note that by submitting this request, I am NOT agreeing to pay any potential fees or associated costs related to my request. If it is not possible to process the request without incurring fees, then please let me know the itemized potential cost and explanations for those charges upfront, and DO NOT proceed until I can respond.
By Law I am not required to provide a name or address to associate with a public records request, but in order to move things along I’d like to clarify that this request is being made by:
Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816
The request has been sent solely from the email address [email protected] . If anyone other than that email address contacts you to pursue a similar request, it did not come from me or my Team. Please do not commingle or treat that as an alteration or cancellation of my request – I intend to continue to pursue my request.
Thank you for your assistance!
Status: Completed
Documents:
Activity:
-
June 22, 2023 12:32 pm
10 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: Sonya Morgan <[email protected]>
cc: Danny Hockaday <[email protected]>
date: Jun 22, 2023, 12:32 PM
subject: Re: Fw: Records Request: (May 2023) Multi-part request for Yancey County, NC Department of Social Services: Related to the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”. 01/01/2023 – 04/28/2023.Hi Sonya,
Thank you for clarifying!
I have now marked this request as “Completed” on our website.
Have a great day. 🙂
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Completed -
June 20, 2023 4:55 pm
10 months ago
from: Sonya Morgan <[email protected]>
to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
cc: Danny Hockaday <[email protected]>
date: Jun 20, 2023, 4:55 PM
subject: Re: Fw: Records Request: (May 2023) Multi-part request for Yancey County, NC Department of Social Services: Related to the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”. 01/01/2023 – 04/28/2023.Good afternoon,
Please see the response below.
Thank you,
Sonya Morgan
Director
Yancey County DSS
P.O. Box 67
Burnsville, NC 28714
(828) 682-6148———————–———————-———————-
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: Sonya Morgan <[email protected]>
cc: Danny Hockaday <[email protected]>
date: Jun 20, 2023, 2:11 PM
subject: Re: Fw: Records Request: (May 2023) Multi-part request for Yancey County, NC Department of Social Services: Related to the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”. 01/01/2023 – 04/28/2023.Hi Sonya,
Thank you for your responses in Red, and, thank you for sending the attached PDF.
It appears that all items in the request have been addressed, except for item #1:
———————-1) I believe that Yancey County Department of Social Services [DSS] recently performed an internal audit of their title IV-E files ahead of the 2024 state audit. Upon completion of the audit, errors from DSS staff were identified causing the DSS managers and DSS director to terminate Adoption Assistance payments, which automatically includes Medicaid, to these families that adopted special needs children.
With this in mind – I’m asking that you please provide a total of the errors, broken down by year. [For example – “4 errors in 2022, 5 errors in 2021, 1 error in 2020” , etc.]
———————-One IV-E case in 2017 with an eligibility error. (One non-IVE case is referenced in emails and not from an internal audit.)Can you please clarify where that information is located? I do not see this addressed in your email above, or within the notes at the bottom of the attachment you sent.Thank you for your help!
Status: Clarification Provided -
June 20, 2023 2:11 pm
10 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: Sonya Morgan <[email protected]>
cc: Danny Hockaday <[email protected]>
date: Jun 20, 2023, 2:11 PM
subject: Re: Fw: Records Request: (May 2023) Multi-part request for Yancey County, NC Department of Social Services: Related to the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”. 01/01/2023 – 04/28/2023.Hi Sonya,
Thank you for your responses in Red, and, thank you for sending the attached PDF.
It appears that all items in the request have been addressed, except for item #1:
———————-1) I believe that Yancey County Department of Social Services [DSS] recently performed an internal audit of their title IV-E files ahead of the 2024 state audit. Upon completion of the audit, errors from DSS staff were identified causing the DSS managers and DSS director to terminate Adoption Assistance payments, which automatically includes Medicaid, to these families that adopted special needs children.
With this in mind – I’m asking that you please provide a total of the errors, broken down by year. [For example – “4 errors in 2022, 5 errors in 2021, 1 error in 2020” , etc.]
———————-Can you please clarify where that information is located? I do not see this addressed in your email above, or within the notes at the bottom of the attachment you sent.
Thank you for your help!
Status: Clarification Requested -
June 15, 2023 3:49 pm
10 months ago
from: Sonya Morgan <[email protected]>
to: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
cc: Danny Hockaday <[email protected]>
date: Jun 15, 2023, 3:49 PM
subject: Fw: Records Request: (May 2023) Multi-part request for Yancey County, NC Department of Social Services: Related to the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”. 01/01/2023 – 04/28/2023.Good afternoon,
Please see responses below.
Regards,
Sonya Morgan
DirectorYancey County DSS
P.O. Box 67
Burnsville, NC 28714
(828) 682-6148
From: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 5:01 PM
To: Sonya Morgan <[email protected]>
Subject: Records Request: (May 2023) Multi-part request for Yancey County, NC Department of Social Services: Related to the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”. 01/01/2023 – 04/28/2023.Hello Sonya (or Yancey County, NC DSS. Records Officer),
I’d like to make a public records request for information that may be available in your office.
If you’re not the appropriate party to contact about the request, please provide the correct name and email address of whom I should send it
to.Please confirm receipt to let me know the request will begin processing, and if possible, please provide a rough estimate of when the request may be completed. I will plan on following up again around the end of the month if I have not heard back before then.
Here are the details of the request:
Subject: (May 2023) Multi-part request for Yancey County, NC Department of Social Services: Related to the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”. 01/01/2023 – 04/28/2023.
Message: “Hello Sonya (or Yancey County, NC DSS. Records Officer),
I’d like to make a multi-part public records request for the following information under NC Public Records Law
Ref: https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bychapter/chapter_132.html** I am simply requesting an electronic copy of an electronic record, if one exists. I am NOT asking to come in person to inspect, nor to obtain a printed copy of, this electronic record. I’m requesting explicitly that any responsive info be provided to me via an electronic medium / format (in which the copy of this record should already exist).
I do not have any additional or further clarifying info to provide to narrow this request, other than what you see in the message below. If it is unclear, or you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of this request, please specifically cite where a reason for denial is justified under NC Public Records Law.**
This request is related to Yancey County, NC DSS and the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”.
For ALL of the items requested below, the searchable time period for the responsive records should be January 01, 2023 through April 28, 2023. Please DO NOT include any personally identifying information about recipients (such as name, address, case #, etc.) Sunshine Request will not publish this type of info:
1) I believe that Yancey County Department of Social Services [DSS] recently performed an internal audit of their title IV-E files ahead of the 2024 state audit. Upon completion of the audit, errors from DSS staff were identified causing the DSS managers and DSS director to terminate Adoption Assistance payments, which automatically includes Medicaid, to these families that adopted special needs children.
With this in mind – I’m asking that you please provide a total of the errors, broken down by year. [For example – “4 errors in 2022, 5 errors in 2021, 1 error in 2020” , etc.]
2.A1) Please provide the total number of families whose Adoption Assistance benefits were terminated based on errors found during the internal audit.
One IV-E case in 2017. (One non-IVE case is referenced in emails and not from an internal audit.)
2.A2) Please provide copies of the termination letters mailed to these families.
In attachment
2.A3) Please provide the total number of appeals requested from the families that had their benefits terminated.
One agency appeal; one in-person state appeal
3) Please provide and cite the specific State Statute permitting the termination of Adoption Assistance benefits by a local DSS agency based on staff paperwork errors.
G.S. 108A-49(b) establishes criteria for eligibility.
4) If such a record exists – Please provide copies of all memos between Management and Social Workers directing the termination of benefits to special needs families receiving Adoption Assistance funding.
In attachment
5) If such a record exists – Please provide copies of all email communications exchanged between DSS and the Social Services Board and County Commissioners stating that cash assistance and Medicaid was being terminated to families who adopted special needs children.
None
——————Please note that by submitting this request, I am NOT agreeing to pay any potential fees or associated costs related to my request. If it is not possible to process the request without incurring fees, then please let me know the itemized potential cost and explanations for those charges upfront, and DO NOT proceed until I can respond.
By Law I am not required to provide a name or address to associate with a public records request, but in order to move things along I’d like to clarify that this request is being made by:
Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816The request has been sent solely from the email address [email protected] . If anyone other than that email address contacts you to pursue a similar request, it did not come from me or my Team. Please do not commingle or treat that as an alteration or cancellation of my request – I intend to continue to pursue my request.
Thank you for your assistance!”
Thank you!
** Sunshine Request (www.sunshinerequest.com) makes no claim as to the veracity of any statements or information contained in any of the requests, or public records, we receive.
**Editor’s Note: Additionally — please see the 1 referenced attachment from Sonya (“SUNSHINE-REQUEST.pdf”) at top left in our Documents section.
Status: Response Received from Government -
June 13, 2023 3:56 pm
10 months ago
from: Daniel Hockaday <[email protected]>
to: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
date: Jun 13, 2023, 3:56 PM
subject: Re: RecordsI will have you aa response to the request by the end of the week. Thank you.
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
Status: Government Processing Request -
June 7, 2023 1:35 pm
10 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
cc: Sonya Morgan <[email protected]>, Michelle Rogers <[email protected]>, Lynn Austin <[email protected]>, Angie Patton <[email protected]>
date: Jun 7, 2023, 1:35 PM
subject: Re: RecordsGood afternoon Daniel (and all others CCed),
Regarding my public records request, first sent to your offices on May 09, 2023:
(May 2023) Multi-part request for Yancey County, NC Department of Social Services: Related to the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”. 01/01/2023 – 04/28/2023.You said on May 11: “… On May 9. 2023, Sonya Morgan (the Director) received a request for DSS records from this email. No name or individual was listed as a contact person. Nevertheless, these records are confidential by law and will not be provided.”
As this is a multi-part request — it is unclear which, if any, specific portions of the request you’re addressing when you say “these records are confidential”, or, what aspect of NC Records Law you’re citing. I responded to your comment and asked for clarification on May 11, 2:46pm, and again via my follow up emails on May 19, 6:07pm, and May 26, 1:17pm.
I have not received any reply.
For simplicity, I’ve pasted the relevant info from those emails here:
———————————————— “As you may know, and as was stated in my original request:
By Law requestors are not required to provide a name, address, or even a purpose, to associate with a public records request — However, in order to move things along I’d like to clarify, again, that this request is being made by:
Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816
Email: [email protected]This is not an anonymous request, as you’ve suggested, and contact info was provided when the request was submitted. I am a real person making a records request to your office in accordance with NC Public Records Law.
Additionally, I’ll reiterate the following from the original request:
** If you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of this request, please specifically cite where a reason for denial is justified under NC Public Records Law.**
Can you please explain exactly which sections of the original request you’re saying are “confidential” … and that cannot be provided under the law? Also, can you please specify which items CAN be provided under the law?”
——————————
—————— Today will be my 4th and final attempt to follow up.
I am concerned that you may be intentionally delaying further fulfillment or response to this request by allowing my emails to “sit” until staff has availability, or feels like addressing. Under NC Public Records Law, the County is required to “promptly” process all public records requests. With this in mind, I want to highlight the court case referenced in item #6 of the following article, posted on the NC Press Association website. In this instance: “The trial court held that an unjustified one-month delay in production of records was tantamount to a denial”. http://www.ncpress.com/stories/a-bakers-dozen-for-2022nc-public-records-law,2390
Having made all reasonable efforts to follow up, if I do not hear back in the next week I will mark the request as having been “Denied” by your organization.
Thank you for your help!
~ Lauren (and the Sunshine Request Team)
Status: Follow up -
May 26, 2023 1:17 pm
10 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
cc: Sonya Morgan <[email protected]>, Michelle Rogers <[email protected]>
date: May 26, 2023, 1:17 PM
subject: Re: RecordsHi Daniel,
I’m following up again in regard to my public records request:
(May 2023) Multi-part request for Yancey County, NC Department of Social Services: Related to the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”. 01/01/2023 – 04/28/2023.You said on May 11: “… On May 9. 2023, Sonya Morgan (the Director) received a request for DSS records from this email. No name or individual was listed as a contact person. Nevertheless, these records are confidential by law and will not be provided.”
I responded to your comment on May 11, 2:46 PM , and again on May 19, 6:07 PM. I have not received a reply.
For simplicity, I’ve pasted the relevant info from those emails here:
———————————————— As you may know, and as was stated in my original request:
By Law requestors are not required to provide a name, address, or even a purpose, to associate with a public records request — However, in order to move things along I’d like to clarify, again, that this request is being made by:
Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816
Email: records@sunshinerequest.com This is not an anonymous request, as you’ve suggested, and contact info was provided when the request was submitted. I am a real person making a records request to your office in accordance with NC Public Records Law.
Additionally, I’ll reiterate the following from the original request:
** If you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of this request, please specifically cite where a reason for denial is justified under NC Public Records Law.**
Can you please explain exactly which sections of the original request you’re saying are “confidential” … and that cannot be provided under the law? Also, can you please specify which items CAN be provided under the law?
——————————
—————— Thank you for your help!
~ Lauren (and the Sunshine Request Team)
Status: Follow up -
May 19, 2023 6:07 pm
11 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
date: May 19, 2023, 6:07 PM
subject: Re: RecordsHi Daniel,
Happy Friday! 🙂
I understand you’re out of town at the moment, but I’m sending this message now, for your review upon your return to the office.
This message is in reference to the following public records request:
(May 2023) Multi-part request for Yancey County, NC Department of Social Services: Related to the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”. 01/01/2023 – 04/28/2023.You said on May 11: “… On May 9. 2023, Sonya Morgan (the Director) received a request for DSS records from this email. No name or individual was listed as a contact person. Nevertheless, these records are confidential by law and will not be provided.
I’m following up now regarding one of my previous emails to you about this request, that was sent on May 11, 2023, 2:46 PM. I have not received a reply.
To reiterate that email:
———————————————— ” As you may know, and as was stated in my original request:
By Law requestors are not required to provide a name, address, or even a purpose, to associate with a public records request — However, in order to move things along I’d like to clarify, again, that this request is being made by:
Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816
Email: [email protected]This is not an anonymous request, as you’ve suggested, and contact info was provided when the request was submitted. I am a real person making a records request to your office in accordance with NC Public Records Law.
Additionally, I’ll reiterate the following from the original request:
** If you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of this request, please specifically cite where a reason for denial is justified under NC Public Records Law.**
Please explain exactly which sections of the original request you’re saying are “confidential” and cannot be provided under the law. Also, please specify which items CAN be provided under the law.
Thank you!
~ The Sunshine Request Team ”
——————————
—————— Can you please explain exactly which sections of the original request you’re saying are “confidential” … and that cannot be provided under the law? Also, can you please specify which items CAN be provided under the law?
Thank you for your help!
~ Lauren (and the Sunshine Request Team)
Status: Clarification Requested -
May 15, 2023 7:07 pm
11 months ago
from: Daniel Hockaday <[email protected]>
to: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
date: May 15, 2023, 7:07 PM
subject: Re: RecordsCorrect
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
Status: Government Processing Request -
May 15, 2023 7:06 pm
11 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
date: May 15, 2023, 7:06 PM
subject: Re: RecordsDaniel,
Both of my requests this past week are related to DSS.
i think, perhaps, you are referring specifically to
(May 2023) Multi-part request for Yancey County, NC Department of Social Services: Related to the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”. 01/01/2023 – 04/28/2023.As that was the only one I sent to you directly.
Please confirm.
Thank you!
Status: Clarification Requested -
May 15, 2023 7:01 pm
11 months ago
from: Daniel Hockaday <[email protected]>
to: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
date: May 15, 2023, 7:01 PM
subject: Re: RecordsDSS. I only represent DSS. Not the county.
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
Status: Clarification Provided -
May 15, 2023 6:55 pm
11 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
date: May 15, 2023, 6:55 PM
subject: Re: RecordsHi Daniel,
Thank you for your message.
Can you please clarify what specific email / records request you are referring to exactly? I currently have two records requests “open” with Yancey County at the moment.
Thank you!
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Clarification Requested -
May 15, 2023 6:45 pm
11 months ago
from: Daniel Hockaday <[email protected]>
to: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
date: May 15, 2023, 6:45 PM
subject: RecordsI am following up on your 2nd email. I will try to get you a response by early next week. I leave town tomorrow through the balance of week.
Thank you
Danny
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
Status: Government Processing Request -
May 12, 2023 2:46 pm
11 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: [email protected]
cc: [email protected], [email protected]
date: May 11, 2023, 2:46 PM
subject: Re: Records Request: (May 2023) Multi-part request for Yancey County, NC Department of Social Services: Related to the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”. 01/01/2023 – 04/28/2023.Good Afternoon Sonya (and others CCed),
I received the following message from Daniel Hockaday this afternoon:
——————-
from: Daniel Hockaday <[email protected]>
to: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
cc: Sonya Morgan <[email protected]>, Michelle Rogers <[email protected]>
date: May 11, 2023, 2:01 PM
subject: Request for Yancey DSS recordsTo Whom It May Concern
My name is Danny Hockaday. I am the attorney for the Yancey County Department of Social Services. On May 9. 2023, Sonya Morgan (the Director) received a request for DSS records from this email. No name or individual was listed as a contact person. Nevertheless, these records are confidential by law and will not be provided.
Thank you.
Danny
——————-As you may know, and as was stated in my original request:
By Law requestors are not required to provide a name, address, or even a purpose, to associate with a public records request — However, in order to move things along I’d like to clarify, again, that this request is being made by:
Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816
Email: [email protected]This is not an anonymous request, as you’ve suggested, and contact info was provided when the request was submitted. I am a real person making a records request to your office in accordance with NC Public Records Law.
Additionally, I’ll reiterate the following from the original request:
** If you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of this request, please specifically cite where a reason for denial is justified under NC Public Records Law.**
Please explain exactly which sections of the original request you’re saying are “confidential” and cannot be provided under the law. Also, please specify which items CAN be provided under the law.
Thank you for your assistance!
~ The Sunshine Request Team
Status: Clarification Requested -
May 11, 2023 2:01 pm
11 months ago
from: Daniel Hockaday <[email protected]>
to: “[email protected]” <[email protected]>
cc: Sonya Morgan <[email protected]>, Michelle Rogers <[email protected]>
date: May 11, 2023, 2:01 PM
subject: Request for Yancey DSS recordsTo Whom It May Concern
My name is Danny Hockaday. I am the attorney for the Yancey County Department of Social Services. On May 9. 2023, Sonya Morgan (the Director) received a request for DSS records from this email. No name or individual was listed as a contact person. Nevertheless, these records are confidential by law and will not be provided.
Thank you.
Danny
Status: Response Received from Government -
May 9, 2023 5:01 pm
11 months ago
from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
to: [email protected]
date: May 9, 2023, 5:01 PM
subject: Records Request: (May 2023) Multi-part request for Yancey County, NC Department of Social Services: Related to the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”. 01/01/2023 – 04/28/2023.Hello Sonya (or Yancey County, NC DSS. Records Officer),
I’d like to make a public records request for information that may be available in your office.
If you’re not the appropriate party to contact about the request, please provide the correct name and email address of whom I should send it to.
Please confirm receipt to let me know the request will begin processing, and if possible, please provide a rough estimate of when the request may be completed. I will plan on following up again around the end of the month if I have not heard back before then.
Here are the details of the request:
Subject: (May 2023) Multi-part request for Yancey County, NC Department of Social Services: Related to the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”. 01/01/2023 – 04/28/2023.
Message: “Hello Sonya (or Yancey County, NC DSS. Records Officer),
I’d like to make a multi-part public records request for the following information under NC Public Records Law
Ref: https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bychapter/chapter_132.html** I am simply requesting an electronic copy of an electronic record, if one exists. I am NOT asking to come in person to inspect, nor to obtain a printed copy of, this electronic record. I’m requesting explicitly that any responsive info be provided to me via an electronic medium / format (in which the copy of this record should already exist).
I do not have any additional or further clarifying info to provide to narrow this request, other than what you see in the message below. If it is unclear, or you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of this request, please specifically cite where a reason for denial is justified under NC Public Records Law.**
This request is related to Yancey County, NC DSS and the “Termination of Adoption Assistance Title IV-E Benefits and Other Public Assistance Benefits”.
For ALL of the items requested below, the searchable time period for the responsive records should be January 01, 2023 through April 28, 2023. Please DO NOT include any personally identifying information about recipients (such as name, address, case #, etc.) Sunshine Request will not publish this type of info:
1) I believe that Yancey County Department of Social Services [DSS] recently performed an internal audit of their title IV-E files ahead of the 2024 state audit. Upon completion of the audit, errors from DSS staff were identified causing the DSS managers and DSS director to terminate Adoption Assistance payments, which automatically includes Medicaid, to these families that adopted special needs children.
With this in mind – I’m asking that you please provide a total of the errors, broken down by year. [For example – “4 errors in 2022, 5 errors in 2021, 1 error in 2020” , etc.]
2.A1) Please provide the total number of families whose Adoption Assistance benefits were terminated based on errors found during the internal audit.
2.A2) Please provide copies of the termination letters mailed to these families.
2.A3) Please provide the total number of appeals requested from the families that had their benefits terminated.
3) Please provide and cite the specific State Statute permitting the termination of Adoption Assistance benefits by a local DSS agency based on staff paperwork errors.
4) If such a record exists – Please provide copies of all memos between Management and Social Workers directing the termination of benefits to special needs families receiving Adoption Assistance funding.
5) If such a record exists – Please provide copies of all email communications exchanged between DSS and the Social Services Board and County Commissioners stating that cash assistance and Medicaid was being terminated to families who adopted special needs children.
——————Please note that by submitting this request, I am NOT agreeing to pay any potential fees or associated costs related to my request. If it is not possible to process the request without incurring fees, then please let me know the itemized potential cost and explanations for those charges upfront, and DO NOT proceed until I can respond.
By Law I am not required to provide a name or address to associate with a public records request, but in order to move things along I’d like to clarify that this request is being made by:
Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816The request has been sent solely from the email address [email protected] . If anyone other than that email address contacts you to pursue a similar request, it did not come from me or my Team. Please do not commingle or treat that as an alteration or cancellation of my request – I intend to continue to pursue my request.
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** Sunshine Request (www.sunshinerequest.com) makes no claim as to the veracity of any statements or information contained in any of the requests, or public records, we receive.
Status: Sent to Government -
May 8, 2023 6:40 pm
11 months ago
Submitted to Sunshine Request
Status: Pending