For residents of New Bern and the surrounding communities of Eastern North Carolina, the Department of Social Services isn’t just a government office — it’s a lifeline. From Medicaid eligibility to child welfare checks, DSS workers are often the first responders to our neighbors’ most vulnerable moments. But a growing staffing crisis across the region is putting those services at serious risk, and the ripple effects are being felt right here at home. This report is brought to you by SupportNewBern.com, your community connection for Eastern NC news that matters.
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A Region Under Pressure
Directors of social services offices across North Carolina are sounding the alarm about a workforce in freefall. In Lenoir County — just a short drive from New Bern — DSS Director Jeff Harrison reported a child welfare turnover rate of 61% in 2021. At one point this year, half of his child welfare department sat vacant, with 10 unfilled positions. His economic services department carried 17 additional vacancies. “We are in a recruitment and retention pandemic, across the board,” Harrison said.
Right next door, Pamlico County — one of New Bern’s closest neighbors — faces some of the starkest numbers in the state. In 2020, Pamlico paid social worker IIs just $34,877 per year, while surrounding counties paid between $7,000 and $10,000 more for the same work. DSS Director Deborah Green acknowledges the challenge plainly: “We are a small rural county, and unfortunately, the surrounding counties are able to pay significantly higher salaries.”
The Pay Gap Is Driving People Away
Across the state, inconsistent pay from county to county has emerged as the number one reason social workers leave their jobs. A 2018 report to the state legislature identified salary discrepancies as “perhaps the greatest factor to inconsistent service delivery in the state.” In some counties, pay was so low for workers helping families access food and utility assistance that several of those workers qualified for the very programs they administered.
In Granville County, a social worker II starts at around $31,000 per year — while the same position in neighboring Durham County earns more than $43,000. Director Adonica Hampton has watched trained employees leave for higher salaries in nearby counties after just one or two years. “It’s the same job,” she said. “I think we are in crisis.”
Hiring in Work-Against Status: A Necessary Compromise
When counties cannot attract fully qualified candidates, North Carolina law allows them to hire workers on a “work-against” basis — meaning the employee does not yet meet minimum state qualifications but is trained on the job and expected to meet standards over time. In Lenoir County, 16 of 23 newly hired social workers are currently in work-against status. For income maintenance caseworker positions, Harrison says it is “more common than not” to hire in this way.
Pamlico County’s Deborah Green describes a similar pathway: a newly hired worker may start at a social worker I level and gradually advance to social worker II and III classifications as they gain experience and complete required training. “Training is ongoing,” she said. While directors stress they are following state rules, they acknowledge this approach creates additional supervision burdens on already-stretched staff.
Burnout, Trauma, and the Human Cost
Beyond pay, the nature of the work itself drives people out of these positions. Social workers investigate domestic violence, child abuse, substance misuse, and neglect — often after hours, on weekends, or during holidays. Kevin Marino, interim DSS director for Rutherford County, describes a difficult reality: “Because the universities don’t properly prepare them for reality, we get them here and they learn that on the job. And when they get on the job and learn it, they leave.”
In rural areas like Dare County on the Outer Banks, high costs of living and geographic isolation create additional barriers to recruitment. In Cherokee County in Western NC, Director Amanda Tanner-McGee said the county has essentially exhausted its local pool of degree-holding candidates interested in the field. “It’s at a crisis level,” she said.
What Would a Fully Staffed Office Mean for Communities Like New Bern?
When asked what a fully staffed office would mean to Lenoir County residents, Harrison paused before answering with a wistful tone: “That would be a dream.” He described an office that could spend more time strengthening families, preventing children from entering foster care, and offering enhanced — rather than just emergency — services. “It doesn’t become a rapid-fire response, or an emergency response,” he said.
For New Bern and its neighbors throughout Craven, Pamlico, and Jones counties, that dream is a shared one. County Manager David Clegg of Tyrrell County suggested that a baseline equitable salary across all counties — with local flexibility to supplement — could help attract more social workers to underserved rural communities.
What Can Be Done?
State leaders and local directors alike are calling for solutions. These include salary equalization across counties, expanded and more accessible training options for rural workers, and incentive programs similar to those used to attract rural healthcare providers — such as student loan repayment for social workers who commit to serving high-need communities. Representative Joyce Krawiec of Forsyth County supports giving counties flexibility in hiring while also calling for clearer oversight to prevent nepotism or favoritism from filling the gap that understaffing creates.
The path forward will require investment, coordination, and a genuine commitment from the state to treat social services staffing as the public safety issue it truly is.
Support the Community That Supports You
The social workers who serve our Eastern NC communities show up every day for our most vulnerable neighbors — often under incredibly difficult conditions. The least we can do is show up for the local businesses and community organizations that keep New Bern strong. Visit SupportNewBern.com to discover local shops, restaurants, and services worth supporting. When you invest in New Bern businesses, you invest in the whole community we all call home.
Original Source: Pamlico County Archives — Carolina Public Press. Stay connected with the vibe of Eastern NC at SupportNewBern.com.
