At Durham County Department of Social Services, we strive to have our clients report that we provide excellent customer service.  We hope the information on this site makes it quicker, easier and more accessible for you to get the help you need.

How to reach us

Durham County DSS operates a Call Center from 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday, except County Holidays.  Call (919) 560-8000.  Call Center representatives can answer questions about applying for services, the status of your case or transfer you to your assigned case worker. Call Center representatives are available to speak with you in English or Spanish.

The NC Department of Health and Human Services also offers the CARE-LINE Information and Referral Services (1-800-662-7030) to provide information about all programs and services under their oversight for health and human services programs in all 100 North Carolina counties.

Language Services

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its amendments provide that no person shall be subject to discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin under any program or activity that receives Federal financial assistance.  It is the intent of the Durham County Department of Social Services to ensure those language barriers and cultural expectations do not compromise the availability or quality of services. 

Durham County DSS is working to meet the needs of our changing population.  If you need the assistance of an Interpreter when you visit our agency, please notify the receptionist when you check in.  If you speak Spanish, a bilingual worker or interpreter with a caseworker will be assigned to meet with you. If you speak a language other than Spanish, the Department will arrange for a telephone based interpreting service to assist in your interview process.  All interpreting services are FREE OF CHARGE for all clients.

Durham County DSS will never allow children to interpret for their parents or other adults.

You have the right to file a complaint if you think that you were treated unfairly because you do not speak English well, or because of your race, color, country of origin, sex, religion, age, disability or political belief.  Link to complaint form.  You may also call the agency’s Title VI Compliance Officer, Sharon Hirsch, to discuss any concerns at (919) 560-8059.

Services for People with Hearing Impairments

Durham County DSS will provide FREE sign language interpreters for clients with hearing impairments upon request.  In keeping with our professional standards, DSS will not allow minor children to fill the role of interpreter for their parents or any adult.

We recognize that some people with hearing impairments will not want or need an interpreter.  Many will have well-developed skills to cope with interactions, such as lip reading or writing notes.  If you will need sign language services, you may contact the Customer Information Center Manager at (919) 560-8726 or dwhitfield@durhamcountync.gov to make arrangements to have a sign language interpreter on site for your appointment.  Whenever possible, please make these arrangements 72 hours in advance of the appointment so that we can secure the interpreter.

We also encourage clients with hearing impairments to use Relay North Carolina, a FREE service providing full telephone accessibility to people who are deaf, hard –of-hearing, deaf-blind and speech disabled.  Simply dial 711 to connect with a Relay Operator.  Calls may be made to anywhere in the world, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year with no restrictions on the number, length or type of calls. All calls are strictly confidential and no records of any conversations are maintained.

Services for People with Disabilities/Mobility Impairments

Durham County DSS is accessible to anyone with a mobility impairment.  Entrance/exit ramps are available at all client entrances and it is possible to meet with a client in a private setting near the lobbies.  If you do have a mobility impairment, when visiting the agency please remember you do not have to wait in line; please go directly to the receptionist for assistance.  For those unable to visit the agency, you may call to make special arrangements for a home visit or to submit an application for assistance over the phone.  Some public assistance applications may be downloaded from our website and mailed back to the agency as well.

Medicaid App

Child Care App

CSE App

Community Outreach

We aim to connect our services to all families and individuals in our community who are eligible and need help.  We welcome opportunities to share information at community events, to speak to professional and civic organizations or to take applications at community locations to meet demand.  If you are interested in having staff at DSS speak to your group, participate in a community event or have staff take applications at your worksite, contact Sharon Hirsch at (919) 560-8059.

Customer Engagement and Feedback

The staff at Durham County DSS strive to provide excellent customer service.  Customer Service Feedback cards are given to every client when they check-in at the reception desk.  Please take time to complete a card to tell us how well we served you.  You may also complete a Customer Service Feedback card via our website at:  Link to Customer Survey

Everyone needs a little help from their friends....including the staff and clients of our agency. Strong connections with our neighbors will help us to strengthen the network of support for families in need. DSS Friends will be asked to help the agency to:

• Promote in the community a more positive vision of DSS through educational campaigns
• Promote and publicize DSS events in the community, such as personal hygiene supply drives, Child Abuse Prevention Walk, informational meetings about foster care and adoption, and more to increase awareness of the ways that DSS helps the community
• Advocate for services that support our neighbors in need

 We'd love it if you would become one of our friends on Facebook!  You can find our Facebook Page Here