Social Services

HOPE STARTS HERE: Understanding Foster Care and How to Get Involved. 

The SUN Bucks program is back for 2026! SUN Bucks is a program that provides grocery-buying benefits in a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child. These benefits can be used to buy nutritious food during the summer months when schools are out and will be issued on a new SUN Bucks card that will function like a debit card. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE IMPORTANT LINKS LISTED BELOW:

Henderson County Department of Social Services only provides TIPS-MAPP training three times a year. Since we need dedicated families and space is limited we require the following be completed before we will allow you to attend the first night of class. YOU MUST:

An important health and safety service for our community's children, our staff members are available 24 hours a day year round to receive reports of suspected child abuse and neglect and conduct prompt investigative assessments. When abuse or neglect is determined, our staff works with the family in their home (when safe to do so). Through home based services, staff strive to enable abused and neglected children to remain with their families rather than be placed in foster care.

The North Carolina Services for the Blind provides the assistance of a community Social Worker to help family members, caregivers, civic groups, businesses, and other service providers gain access to information and services on topics related to vision loss, including:

Purpose: APS receives and evaluates reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation of disabled adults (age 18 and older). Services are designed to identify, remedy and prevent problems that result in such cases. APS strives to protect the disabled adult while acknowledging the client's right to self-determination.

Program Services:

• Evaluation of disabled adult situations.
• Support for caregivers of disabled adults.
• Referrals to appropriate agencies to stop abuse, neglect or exploitation.

Adult Care Homes (ACH) also referred to as Rest Homes, Homes for the Aged, or Assisted Living, are homes which provide residential care for seven (7) or more aged and disabled adults.

Family Care Homes (FCH) provide for two (2) to six (6) individuals. These homes provide around-the-clock or live-in staff that prepare meals, supervise medications, and provide assistance with bathing, grooming and other personal care needs.