Today’s episode winds up our discussions with the professionals in the Portsmouth Department of Social Services. These individuals that comprise the department work around the clock to protect and serve children, adults, and families. Joining us on this issue of Let’s Talk Portsmouth is Ms. Nokima Stith, Family Services Supervisor in the In-Home Services Unit. The In-Home Services Unit plays a vital role in identifying services and resources that prevent children from entering foster care. The staff help children remain safely in their homes or with relative–kin caregivers. They focus on family engagement, identifying individual needs, creating service plans, monitoring progress, and continually assessing the safety, risk, and protective capabilities of the family component.

In this issue of Let's Talk Portsmouth, we wrap up our series designed to raise awareness about the different roles of Social Services in our community. If there’s one thing we’ve learned in this series – a message that’s been reiterated over and over again – is that these women and men work tirelessly to protect and serve some of the most vulnerable people in society. Joining us on Let’s Talk Portsmouth is Ms. Sharlette Hunter, family services supervisor in the Adult Protective Services unit of the Portsmouth Department of Social Services. Our subject is adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation and how APS investigates these types of cases. 

In today’s episode, and throughout the month of August, we’re going to talk with the professionals in the Portsmouth Department of Social Services who work tirelessly to protect and serve some of the most vulnerable in our society. Today, we talked with Stefanie Fabrizio, Senior Family Services Supervisor in the Adoption and Foster Care unit of the Department of Social Services. What we want you, our listeners to know, the departments of social services are wholeheartedly committed to providing stability for all youth in the foster care system, and ensuring that children eligible for adoption are placed in loving and stable homes. Fabrizio provides real insight into the foster care and adoption systems.