The federal government's dereliction allows states to fall short on meeting minimum child welfare standards. Below is information specific to North Carolina:

CFSR Results Summary: In its Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) process, HHS determines whether each state is in substantial conformity with 7 specific outcomes (pertaining to the areas of safety, permanency and family and child well-being) and 7 systemic factors (relating to the quality of services delivered to children and families and the outcomes they experience).  In the first two rounds of the CFSR, HHS has concluded that North Carolina was:

Round 1 (2001)

• NOT in substantial conformity with 5 of the 7 Outcomes
• NOT in substantial conformity with 3 of the 7 Systemic Factors

Round 2 (2007)   

• NOT in substantial conformity with 7 of the 7 Outcomes
• NOT in substantial conformity with 5 of the 7 Systemic Factors

Although federal law mandates that any state found not to be operating in substantial conformity during an initial or subequent review must begin a full review within two years after approval of the state's program improvement plan, HHS has announced that North Carolina will not undergo Round 3 of the CFSR until FY 2015 (see CFSR Technical Bulletin #7 (March 2014)).

Documents from the U.S. Health & Human Services Children's Bureau

• Child and Family Services Review Reports and Results
  
  
  • North Carolina Performance Improvement Plan (Round 2)
  • Final Report: North Carolina Child and Family Services Review, 2007 (Round 2)
  • North Carolina Performance Improvement Plan (Round 1)
  • Final Report: North Carolina Child and Family Services Review, 2001 (Round 1)
• Title IV-E State Reports and Program Improvement Plans (PIPs)
  
  
  • Initial Primary (FY 2002)
  • Primary Review (FY 2005)
  • Subsequent Primary Review (FY 2008)
  • Subsequent Primary Review (FY 2011)
• Other Documents / Reports
  
  
  • North Carolina AFCARS Assessment Review (2008)
  • North Carolina section from HHS' Child Welfare Outcomes, 2009-2012, Report to Congress

Child Welfare In the News**

• Report: loopholes, lack of communication in Zahra Baker case (Includes video)
  WCNC - January 16, 2015
  A State Child Fatality Review released Thursday claims gaps in the DSS system failed 10-year-old Zahra Baker. In October 2010, Baker was killed by her stepmother Elisa Baker, after complaints had been filed for months that she'd been abused.
  
• DSS Director Peggy Eagan stabilizes once-troubled agency (Includes video)
  Charlotte Observer - January 10, 2015
  It was a deeply troubled agency before she moved into her corner office in June 2013. The work is critical: DSS oversees such federal programs as dispensing food stamps and Medicaid benefits, providing services for seniors and adults, and protecting and caring for children.
  
• Mecklenburg taking renewed look at its child protective services
  Charlotte Observer - December 07, 2014
  Mecklenburg has enlisted the help of UNC Charlotte's social work school to find ways to recruit and retain social workers, which is a "national challenge," said DSS Director Peggy Eagan, who took over the department about 16 months ago. Since then, longtime YFS Director Paul Risk has retired, and a search committee appointed longtime staffer Charles Bradley to lead the unit. The county also plans to bring in an outside consultant to assess the division's operation.
  
• Brunswick DSS adding employee to meet demand
  WECT 6 - November 28, 2014
  Brunswick County is one of 30 counties that were identified in the latest state budget as having a need for additional staff in the Department of Social Services. The Child Welfare unit of DSS is currently not meeting the state caseload mandate according to a memo by Brunswick County's Health Director.
  

**news summaries taken from daily newsfeed service of HHS' Child Welfare Information Gateway