March 4,  2009

Dare County offices on Hatteras Island opened for business in their new location on Monday morning, March 2. The newly constructed building, at 50347 Highway 12 in Frisco, is intended to make county services more convenient for the residents of the island.

Moving day was Friday, Feb. 27, and by 8:30 on Monday, the building was open for Hatteras Island residents to conduct business.

Employees were working out some final glitches even on Tuesday, but the new building was getting enthusiastic reviews from the employees who will work there, including workers from the county’s Department of Public Health and Department of Social Services, the building inspector for the Planning Department, the Magistrate’s Office, and the county’s Sheriff’s Office.

County services have been available at various locations on the island.  The new facility now brings many departments together under one roof and will offer an even wider range of services.

“The Dare County Board of Commissioners is pleased to make valuable county services even more accessible to residents of Hatteras Island,” says Board of Commissioners Chairman Warren Judge. “We have fine programs that will become more convenient through this facility.”

The county’s Department of Social Services previously had one employee working on Hatteras Island and has expanded to four staffers in the new Frisco facility.

April Jasinski serves as an intake worker accepting applications for all public assistance programs including Work First Family Assistance, Food and Nutrition Services, Adult and Family Medicaid, North Carolina Health Choice, Low Income Energy Assistance Program, Special Assistance and food pantry referrals for individuals and families of Hatteras Island.

Jonna Midgett evaluates abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older or disabled adults, provide protective services as needed, and provide preventive services with other high-risk adults.

 Amberly Dyer provides prevention services to families with children in an effort to prevent child abuse, neglect, and dependency. She will assess a family’s needs to determine the level of intervention needed and arrange for appropriate services.  She will also be providing services intake for individuals or families needing emergency assistance.

Heather Bingley conducts family and investigative assessments of child protective services’ reports of abuse, neglect, and dependency and provides case management services.

The Frisco DCDSS staff can be reached at (252) 475-9320.

The Dare County Department of Public Health (DCDPH) provides Home Health and Hospice services, along with the full array of clinic services. Clinic services include prenatal and family planning, mother/baby home visits, outreach support services, well child and adult health screening, breast and cervical cancer control, immunizations, communicable disease and STD testing and treatment, diabetes education program, medical nutrition counseling and WIC Services. 

For more information or to contact DCDPH staff at the Frisco building, call (252) 475-9320.

The Sheriff’s Office will move from Hatteras village to the Frisco building, as will the Magistrate’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office can be reached at (252) 475-9350.  If no answer, call the Sheriff’s main administrative offices Monday through Friday at 252- 475-5980 or the Communications Center on nights and weekends at 252- 473-3444.  The Magistrate’s Office at the new facility can be reached at (252) 475-9360.

The Planning Department’s office that was located in Buxton can be contacted at (252) 475-5878. That number remains unchanged.

Dare County Emergency Medical Services on Hatteras Island will continue to be accessed by calling 911.

The parking lot for clients doing business with the county offices is on the eastern side of the building, the side nearest to Buxton.  The parking lot on the western side of the building is for employees.

There are two main entrances to the building from the visitor parking lot, both with handicapped ramps.  The first one is the entrance to the waiting room for health department and social services clients.  The second ramp leads to offices for the Planning Department, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Magistrate’s Office.
 
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