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By Ena Sellers, Duplin Journal
KENANSVILLE – Low wages and understaffed departments are a common denominator in Duplin County as several departments struggle to keep their employees and recruit new personnel. Among those affected are Duplin County Social Services employees with a 14.87% vacancy rate overall for the agency according to Annie Murrell, Duplin County Social Services director.
“I have 18 vacancies,” Murrell told the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 16, explaining these exclude the eight vacancies out of the 13 positions that were created to provide support for Medicaid Expansion.
According to Murrell, the programs with the highest vacancy rates are child welfare, adult services, food and nutrition, and children’s Medicaid.
“I currently have five supervisor positions vacant,” shared Murrell, adding that two of those supervisors left because they accepted jobs with a higher salary, and her only seasoned Medicaid supervisor took a job offer with a neighboring county for $10,000 more.
Another challenge Duplin DSS is experiencing is the inability to attract new qualified candidates because they must compete with surrounding counties. Murrell shared that applicants with supervisory experience had declined the department’s job offer because they were not able to match their salary requirements.
“Losing experienced supervisors and staff regresses the agency and makes the agency vulnerable,” said Murrell. “Losing our supervisor in line staff with a plethora of knowledge weakens our ability to process applications and determine cases timely.”
Murrell explained that this impacts the department when investigating and assessing reports, putting them at risk of making “errors that could lead to a substantial county payback.”
“The work is stressful. Timeframes are demanding and there are always changes in policy which causes us to change our way of doing things,” said Murrell, adding that while they have “staff capable and willing to do the work” she was concerned with so many employees leaving due to pay “is causing the remaining staff to question whether they should stay or leave.”
Murrell explained that she looks at her department as an “economic powerhouse.”
“A lot of people only see the side that we give out benefits, but I often wonder if there wasn’t a Duplin DSS, would our family-oriented establishment survive with monies received in food and nutrition benefits and Medicaid benefits? And let’s not forget about our daycare providers who are self-employed. Beneficiaries from these programs receive millions of dollars each month and a sizable percentage goes back into the county. Staffing plays a vital role to ensure the benefits are received timely and programs are run accurately,” Murrell added.
According to the US Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey estimate, Duplin County median household income is 26.8% below the state median household income.
