HENDERSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
AGENCY PROFILE
(www.hendersoncountync.gov/socialservices)
Henderson County: Henderson County is located in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North
Carolina, 22 miles south of Asheville and 15 miles north of the North-South Carolina border. Current
population is 117,417; median county household income is $52,815 (Source: Henderson County Profile of Statistical
Information – November 2020). The Department of Social Services is co-located with the Department of Public
Health and Veteran’s Services in the Human Services Building erected in 2006.
Henderson County DSS/Board of Social Services Mission Statement: To provide services that improve the
safety, health, well-being, independence and quality of life for the residents of Henderson County.
Organizational Structure: The agency is divided into three main sections: Administration/Fiscal; Economic
Services (public assistance programs) and Social Work Services (child/adult protective services, foster care,
adoptions and child support enforcement).
Staff Information:
 Total employees: 187
 Median staff tenure: 5.25 years; Average staff tenure: 7.75 years; Staff turnover: 10.70% (FY 19/20)
 Number of Child Welfare social workers with MSW (2), BSW (18), and other college graduates (7 other
master’s degrees; 26 other college graduates): Total - 53
Management Team:
 Mrs. Jerrie McFalls is the Director of Henderson County DSS. She has been employed with Henderson
County for 41 years, beginning as a front-line social worker with promotions to Child Protective Services
Supervisor and Program Administrator.
 Ms. Jillian Humphries is the Economic Services Program Administrator. She has worked within Economic
Services since July 2009. She worked in Rutherford County for five years and then Buncombe County for
five years, working various positions such as caseworker, trainer, supervisor, and quality assurance
manager. She was hired as the Economic Services Program Administrator for Henderson County in
September 2019. In this role she is responsible for the management of multiple public assistance programs
including Adult & Family Medicaid, Food & Nutrition, Work First Family Assistance/Employment, CIP,
LIEAP, EA and the Child Care Subsidy Program.
 Mr. Joe Maxey is the Budget/Administrative Officer. He has many years of experience in private industry
management/supervision. He supervises 8 staff and is responsible for multiple administrative and fiscal
areas including agency budget/fiscal reporting, building maintenance/day-to-day operations, contracts
and Reception.
 Mrs. Lorie Horne is the Social Work Program Administrator. She came to work at Henderson County DSS
in July 2013 as a Social Work Program Manager. Prior to that she worked for Rutherford County DSS for 24
years. She began at Rutherford County DSS in 1989 as a front-line social worker with promotion to
supervisor in 2002 and then promoted to Program Manager in 2007. She currently oversees a staff of 92
and is responsible for the management of several program areas including Child/Adult Protective Services,
Foster Care and Adoption, Adult Guardianships and Child Support.
Budget Information:
FY 20-21 Total Budget: $19,415,635
{Federal & State $10,457,319; County $9,058,316}
25000000
BUDGETED EXPENDITURES & REVENUES
10 YEARS THRU BUDGETED
FY 20TOTAL
21
EXPENDITU…
20,960,536.00
20,392,966.00
20,220,612.00
19,991,241.00
19,415,635.00
19,415,635.00
19,057,231.00
18,835,710.00
18,347,339.00
20000000
18,260,514.00
13,647,422.00
12,749,519.00
12,130,229.00
11,973,985.00
11,788,755.00
10,995,620.00
10,981,949.00
10,457,319.00
10,457,319.00
10,440,321.00
9,058,316.009,058,316.00
8,324,237.00
10000000
7,532,593.007,412,188.008,117,256.007,920,193.00
7,325,476.007,422,390.007,897,090.00
15000000
5000000
0
FY 11-12
FY 12-13
FY 13-14
FY 14-15
Major Programs & Selective Caseloads:
 Food & Nutrition:
 Medicaid:
 Foster Care:
 CPS investigations:
 Work First:
 Child Care Subsidy:
 Guardianship:
 Special Assistance In-Home Program:
FY15-16
FY16-17
FY17-18
FY18-19
FY19-20
FY20-21
10,790 individuals (January 2021)
23,470 individuals (January 2021)
170 children (birth to 18) in DSS custody (January 2021)
70 reports (January 2021)
90 cases (January 2021)
452 children served (December 2020)
25 cases (January 2021)
127 individuals (January 2021)
Board of Social Services: The Henderson County Board of Social Services is a 5-member Board, with two
members appointed by the Henderson County Board of Commissioners, two members appointed by the
Social Services Commission and the 5th member appointed by the Board. Current board members include Dr.
Jennifer Hensley (Chair), Mrs. Melinda Lowrance (Vice-Chair), Mrs. Judy Smith, Mrs. Margaret Stone, and Mr.
Josh Simpson. The Board is experienced and engaged, working to adhere to statutory responsibilities of
public education and awareness regarding DSS programs and services.
Important Community Partners: Advent Health Hospital, Believe Child Advocacy Center, Blue Ridge
Community College, Blue Ridge Community Health Services, Children & Family Resource Center, Children’s
Home Society, Community Foundation of Henderson County, Council on Aging, Family Justice Center, Family
Preservation Services, Fostering Hopes, Henderson County Department of Public Health, Henderson County
Free Clinic’s, Henderson County Public Schools, Henderson County Sheriff’s Department, Homeless Coalition
(Region 2), Homeless in Henderson County, Hope RX, Interfaith Assistance Ministry, JCPC, Meridian
Behavioral Health, Pardee Hospital, Partnership for Health, Pisgah Legal Services, Safelight, Salvation Army,
Smart Start, SPARC, United Way of Henderson County, VAYA Health, Western Carolina Community Action,
Youth Villages Intercept Program.
The department has thirty-nine (39) active contracts and three (3) staff outposted in other community human
service non-profits to augment access to services.