Letters From the Director & Deputy Director
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR:
The mission of Harnett County Department of Social Services is to provide services to individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency, safety, and improve their quality of life. Our goal is to improve the quality of life for the citizens of our county by providing services that are outcome focused and cost effective. The programs of our agency are vast and touch the lives of many families within our communities.
We think it is important that you know and understand what we do. I hope that the information presented will be of assistance to you in accessing the benefits and services offered by the Department of Social Services and will give you an insight to our mission.
Please call me at 910-893-7500 or email ppolinski@harnett.org if I can assist you in any way.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Harnett.
Paul D. Polinski, Director
LETTER FROM THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR:
Welcome to our newly designed website. I am Kelly Kelly, the Deputy Director for Harnett County Department of Social Services.
I hope you find this website to offer valuable information about the services we provide, links to easily apply for these services and lots of other useful resources.
Our goal is to provide Harnett County citizens seamless access to services you may need.
If you should need to contact me, I may be reached at 910-893-7500 or by email at ckelly@harnett.org
It is my honor to serve Harnett County and I look forward in assisting you to the best of my ability.
Thank you!
Kelly Kelly, Deputy Director
HARNETT COUNTY CORE VALUES
- Integrity: Having strong moral and ethical principles. Integrity means being honest and doing the right thing no matter who is watching.
- Teamwork: When people work together they can create something much greater than by themselves. Effective teamwork is an important factor in establishing engagement, loyalty and wellbeing.
- Compassion: A positive emotion that allows people to show that they care and are willing to help others. Actively listening and noticing when colleagues are in pain or undergoing an emotional stressor can help to make them feel secure and cared for at work. Showing compassion at work can spread harmony in the workplace.
- Respect: Showing appreciation for someone’s traits or qualities and treating people with dignity. Treating people with the common decency that we all deserve. Service with dignity permeates all interactions with families, co-workers and customers. We may not always agree but we can choose to respect others views and opinions. Encouraging a mutual respect can help to reduce workplace stress, conflict and problems.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Organizations thrive by bringing different experiences and a range of backgrounds into a shared environment where everyone has an equal opportunity.
MANAGEMENT TEAM LIST
Paul Polinski / Director / 910-814-6637 / ppolinski@harnett.org
Kelly Kelly / Deputy Director / 910-814-6638 / ckelly@harnett.org
Donna M. Wigglesworth / Administrative Assistant II / 910-814-6550 / dwigglesworth@harnett.org
Michael Wimberly / Accounting Specialist I / 910-814-6562 / mwimberly@harnett.org
Torrie Humphreys / Agency Attorney / 910-814-6858 / thumphreys@harnett.org
Marina Wong / Paralegal / 910-814-6885 / mwong@harnett.org
Duncan McCormick / Agency Attorney / 910-814-6555 / dmccormick@harnett.org
Judy Wheeler / Paralegal / 910-814-6800 / jwheeler@harnett.org
Lettie Jones / Paralegal / 910-814-6564 / lwjones@harnett.org
Lisa Hinson / Child Protection Services Program Manager / 910-814-6663 / lhinson@harnett.org
Virginia Smith / Foster Care & Adoption Program Manager/ 910-814-6683 / vsmith@harnett.org
Becky Wise / Adult Services, WFFA, Energy, Daycare Assistance Program Manager / 910-814-6693 / bwise@harnett.org
Angela H. Warren / Child Support Program Manager / Program Integrity Supervisor / 910-814-6863 / awarren@harnett.org
Tracie LeCesne / Income Maintenance Program Manager / 910-814-6572 / tlecesne@harnett.org
Cynthia Harris / Administrative Support Supervisor / 910-814-6565 / clharris@harnett.org
Suzanne Wells / Hearing Officer / 910-814-6843 / swells@harnett.org
Gladys House / Foreign Language Interpreter (Spanish) / 910-814-6143 / ghouse@harnett.org
Kimberly Perez / Foreign Language Interpreter (Spanish) / 910-814-6654 / kperez@harnett.org
SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD
(From Left to Right)
Gail Williams, Vice Chairman of the Board
Frances Avery, Board Member
Matt Nicol, County Commissioner Representative
Craig McKinney, Chairman of the Board
Montrena Jones, Board Member
The DSS Board holds its regular meeting the last Tuesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. Board meetings take place at the Department of Social Services, Room 243.
Harnett County Department of Social Services Board Meeting
Public Comment Policy
I. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to facilitate public comment in a fair, consistent, and informative manner.
II. Background
The Harnett County Department of Social Services Board recognizes the importance and value of public comment on issues of concern and interest to the public and the agency. Comments from the public often provide an invaluable perspective as the Board deliberates upon specific matters and general issues which come before it in the course of business.
III. Policy
- A period for public participation shall be provided at the beginning of every regular board meeting or at such other time during the meeting as the Chairperson deems appropriate.
- Citizens desiring to make a public comment shall be present by 4:05 p.m. and sign in on a log provided indicating the desire to offer comment.
- Participants shall be recognized by the Chairman following the call for public comment. Each person recognized shall preface their comments by an announcement of their name and group affiliation, if and when appropriate.
- Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three (3) minutes duration unless extended by the Chairperson.
- The overall time frame for public comment shall be limited to a total of 30 minutes in duration unless extended by the Chairperson.
- No participant may speak more than once on the same topic.
- All statements shall be directed to the Chairperson; no person may address or question Board Members individually.
- Citizens will be expected to be civil in their language and presentation and not engage in the use of profanity, name-calling, heckling, or verbal outbursts.
- At the close of a comment, Board Members may seek recognition from the Chairperson to ask clarifying questions or comments.
- The Chairperson will provide direction regarding any follow-up with the speaker or action to be taken about the topic or issue presented.
- A copy of this policy shall be posted on the DSS Website and presented to each citizen when signing the log to participate.
Approved on: 12/14/2010
By: Harnett County Board of Social Services
William Gage, Chairman