Buncombe County Government North Carolina
Buncombe County Government North Carolina

departments & agencies

department of social services / In Home Services

40 Coxe Avenue
Asheville, NC 28802
(828) 250-5822

In-Home Services are legally mandated and provided to families who have had a substantiation of abuse, neglect or dependency or a finding of in need of services due to safety issues. The goals of these services are to maintain the safety of children; to strengthen the family's capacity to protect and nurture its children; and to maintain children in their own families.

What Does In Home Services Mean?

N. C. law requires that counties provide services to ensure a child'safety and that his/her basic needs are being met by his/her parent, guardian, or caretaker. If an investigative assessment social worker informs you that your case will be substantiated and transferred to a In Home Services social worker, this means that another social worker will be contacting you to assist with providing appropriate servces to you and your family. This is an effort to preserve your family as well as to strengthen your family as a unit.

What Can I Expect?

Within 7 calendar days of the substantiation, an In Home Services social worker will be contacting you to introduce him/herself.

This social worker will have at least monthly face-to face contact with you and your family as well as contact with others involved, i.e., therapists, doctors, other family members, on a bi-weekly basis to assure progress toward the treatment goals is continuing. Always the focus of an In Home Services worker's efforts is to ensure protection of the involved children and the preservation of the family.

Shortly thereafter, the In Home Services social worker will discuss what is called a family services case plan. This is a document which will be jointly developed between your family and family In Home Services worker. This plan will specifically address the behaviors which were identified as posing risk to your children and how you and the In Home Services social worker agree to address the issues.

Remember, if you have previously signed a protection plan with the children's protective services investigative social worker, it remains in effect until further notice. The family services case plan will reflect a time for review and will also spell out specifics which may occur should you fail to comply, protect, and provide for your children. This document requires both the family In Home Services social worker and the parent(s), guardian(s), or caregiver(s), signatures and you will be provided with a copy. Any changes or updates can occur at anytime deemed appropriate.

Dependent upon your situation, a child and family team may be established. This is a team comprised of professionals, parents, and the family social worker involved with your family. You should always be an active participant on these teams.

What Are The Possible Outcomes?

If you actively participate and change the behaviors which posed risk to your child(ren), the family In Home Services worker will close your case. However, if the risk factors are not reduced or should you refuse to cooperate, the family In Home Services social worker will present the situation to the In Home Services social work supervisor and a decision will be made as in the best interests of your child(ren).

This may mean to ensure the child(ren)'s safety, the Department will pursue Court action. In a very small number of cases, the child(ren) may be placed out of the home, either voluntarily or by the Department's petitioning the Court. We want children to remain with their families and that will be the focus of our work together.

Anything Else?

You and your family have the right to be treated with respect and courtesy, also to have your questions answered and your telephone messages returned in a timely manner.

If you have an emergency, you may contact the In Home Services social worker between the hours of 8:00am and 5:30pm at the In Home Services worker's number.

If you feel the situation will not wait until the social worker returns your call, you may contact the clerical support person for assistance.

What Can I Do To Help The Process?

  • Allow the In Home Services social worker to come to your home.
  • Keep all scheduled appointments.
  • Discuss any concerns you may have reasonably and calmly.
  • Work with the In Home Services worker to develop the plan for your family.
  • Understand that the In Home Services social worker will be working with you to preserve your family and strengthen it as a unit.

Hours Of Operation


Monday through Friday
8:00am - 5:00pm

Contact Information

Tammy Shook
(828) 250-5557
tammy.shook@buncombecounty.org

Children Services
(828) 250-5822

For emergencies, after hours, holidays, and weekends, contact 211. Ask for the Department of Social Services emergency social worker.

 

For a listing of county-wide programs & services offered by Buncombe County Government, please visit our Services for Children section.