What are the powers and duties of a county board of social services?

County social services boards are responsible for recruiting and selecting the social services director.[1] Implicit in the board’s authority to hire the director are the authority to discipline or fire a director if necessary, and a responsibility to evaluate the director’s performance. The board determines the director’s initial salary and any salary changes in accordance with applicable law, subject to the approval of the board of county commissioners.

The board’s other powers and duties are primarily advisory. The statute that provides for their creation (G.S. 108A-1) states that social services boards are to establish policies for programs administered by the department. Those programs, though, are largely defined by applicable federal and state statutes, regulations, and policies so there is little room for county boards to engage in programmatic policymaking. The boards do, however, advise the director and other local officials on social services programs and social conditions in the county. Board members also may inspect confidential county social services records relating to public assistance and services.