The MISSION of the Durham County Department of Social Services is to partner with families and community in achieving well-being through prosperity, permanence, safety and support.

Durham County Social Services is open from 8:15 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday except County holidays.

Services are administered at three buildings.

• Food Stamps, Medicaid, Work First Family Assistance, Child Support Establishment, and Family Crisis Unit are located at 300 N. Duke St.  [Map]
• Child Support Enforcement, Child Protective Services, Adult Services, and Foster Care and Adoptions Services are located at 220 East Main St.  [Map]
• Day Care Services are offered through Durham's Alliance for Child Care Access, located at 1201 S. Briggs Ave., Suite 101  [Map]

 For more information on DSS Services, view the DSS Services Brochure, DSS Desk Reference   [PDF] and see below for a description of services available and application times and programs that require appointments, or call 919-560-8000.

Connect to the New Durham County DSS Adult Care Home Web Page. The purpose of this page is to:

• Provide general information regarding the area of long term care.
• Provide information on facilities in Durham County that can be helpful when selecting a home.
• Refer to other resources that provide information regarding long term care.

DSS Customer Survey

Emergency Assistance
Provides financial assistance to persons facing eviction, foreclosure, disconnection of utilities, and/or in need medication or medical equipment. To receive assistance, you must schedule an appointment.

• For Adults 18 and older and no children in the home, call 560-8600.
• For Families with children in their homes that are under the age of 18, Call 560-8301.

Child Care
Provides assistance finding and paying for quality child care for eligible families.  To apply, call 560-8300 and make an appointment. To expedite the Application process, you may download the Screening Sheet, complete it, and bring it to your scheduled appointment.  Print or Download Screening Sheet.   [PDF] 
Please note, determination for Child Care assistance is made after a social worker has evaluated your application and you have provided the required verifications.

Child Support
Child Support Service is available to the general public for a fee of either $10 or $25, which is determined by a sliding fee scale. An application will need to be completed.  An agent will be assigned to you based on the last name of the non-custodial parent. The agent will schedule an appointment as soon as possible.  For more information call, 560-8900.  Print a Child Support Application. [PDF]

Food Stamps
Food Stamp applications are taken in person at 300 N. Duke St. between 8:15 am and 5:30 pm Monday through Friday except for county holidays.  When you come to apply for food stamps, please bring the following items with you: picture ID, social security cards for each household member, copies of rent and utility bills, proof of income including wages and child support, and names and phone numbers of contacts to verify this information.  For more information call, 560-8000.

A new prescreening eligibility tool has been added that will let you know before coming in to the office if you are potentially eligible to receive food assistance.  This new prescreening tool will also give you an estimate of the amount of benefits you will be eligible to receive each month. This prescreening tool is fairly accurate; however, your situation may be such that you need to come in to speak with one of our eligibility specialists who will review your entire situation and determine your eligibility based on the information you provide.

Food Stamps Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool

Medicaid and NC Health Choice
Medicaid and NC Health Choice applications can be mailed in or are taken in person at 300 N. Duke St. between 8:15 am and 5:30 pm Monday through Friday except for county holidays.  For more information call, 560-8000.

• Adult Medicaid Mail-in application  [PDF]
• Health Choice application  [PDF]

Work First
Work First applications will be taken on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays  between the hours of 8:30am and 10:30am and 2:00pm and 3:30pm at 300 N. Duke St. Applications for Hispanic  families will be taken during the same hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Please be prepared to stay for 2 to 3 hours. For more information call, 560-8347 or 560-8350.

Work First Plan for 2007-09
Durham County is in the process of developing the Work First Plan for 2007-2009.  Work First is a federal and state program that provides temporary financial assistance for residents who are primary caretakers for children under age 18 and who meet specified income and resource guidelines. 

To report abuse or neglect of a child, call 560-8424.

To report abuse, neglect or exploitation of an adult, call 560-8600.

To report misuse of public assistance benefits or welfare fraud, call 560-8742 or 560-8779.

To become a licensed foster parent, adoptive parent, or offer goods and services for foster parents and children, call 560-8092.

To become a mentor, friendly visitor, or other volunteer, call 688-8977 x25.