Durham County Child Placement and
Supportive Services Program Manager Jovetta Whitfield has been named Interim
Social Services Director by the Durham County Board of Social Services. She succeeds DSS Director Sammy R.
Haithcock, who is retiring on June 30.
Ms. Whitfield will manage the
department’s operations until a permanent replacement is hired by the Board of
Social Services. In making the
appointment, Chairman Gladys Dunston said, “We are grateful to Jovetta Whitfield
for taking on this role while the Board works
tirelessly to make the best possible decision for appointing our next DSS
director. We are encouraged by the
professionalism and high standards of all of the DSS staff who also work
tirelessly to assure the continued success of our agency.”
Ms. Whitfield has more than 13
years in social services and holds a Master’s in Social Work from the UNC School
of Social Work. She serves on the
Field Placement Advisory Board at the UNC School of Social Work and on the
Durham System of Care Council.
She joined Durham County in 1996
and has served as Child Placement and Supportive Services Program Manager since
1999. Ms. Whitfield worked in Child
Protective Services from 1996-1999.
Ms. Whitfield will assume her new
duties on July 1, 2009.