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. 

In today’s episode and throughout the month of August, Let's Talk Portsmouth speaks with the professionals in the Portsmouth Department of Social Services, who work diligently to protect and serve some of the most vulnerable in our society – children, the elderly, and those who need special care. We tried to dispel some of the misconceptions about Child Protective Services (CPS), its role, and the people who serve. We spoke with Arlene Taborn, Family Services Supervisor, and Deborah McMillan, Child Protective Services supervisor, both from the CPS Unit. Get your notepad out -- you'll want to jot down some information. 

As you may be aware, the first Tuesday in August has been designated as National Night Out -- a national community-building campaign that promotes positive police and community partnerships. This year's event takes place Tuesday, August 2. In this episode of Let's Talk Portsmouth, we talk with Assistant Police Chief Na'Shayla Nelson and Sgt. Misty Holley from the Portsmouth Police Department about the 2022 National Night Out event. Thousands of communities across the U.S., and more than 38 million people have taken part in National Night Out since its inception in the 80s. The Portsmouth National Night Out planning committee has organized one huge carnival-type event for 2022. Check it out!

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide has become a leading cause of death in the U.S. Forty-six-thousand people committed suicide in 2020. Suicide and suicide attempts cause serious emotional, physical, and economic impacts. Joining us on this episode of Let's Talk Portsmouth is Dr. Porcha Porter with the city's Behavioral Healthcare Services Department. We talk about the common warning signs of suicidal behavior and how we all can help prevent suicide. Also note that on Saturday, July 16, the 988 will be live as the new three-digit dialing code that routes callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Suicide is preventable. Let's talk . . .

According to the Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement Administration, Fentanyl is about 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. In this issue of Let's Talk Portsmouth, we talk with Dr. Porcha Porter about the increasing number of fentanyl deaths. Dr. Porter is a licensed clinical social worker and clinical manager of short-term services with Portsmouth's Behavioral Healthcare Services Department. She speaks with us about fentanyl addiction, what the synthetic opioid does to the brain, and the crisis in our country caused by this very potent drug.

Book bans, challenges, and book burnings have made the news all throughout the world and in American history. In 2021, the American Library Association (ALA) received 729 reports of book challenges – a rate which the ALA called unprecedented. In this issue of Let's Talk Portsmouth, we spoke with three professional librarians about the recent uptick in book bans and challenges. Lisa Varga, executive director for the Virginia Library Association; Alexander Grosby, programming and outreach librarian with the Portsmouth Public Library system and Easter DiGangi, manager of library systems and support services also with the Portsmouth Public Library formed our panel for this discussion. This lengthy conversation is filled with wisdom from the ages. If you believe in and value your First Amendment Rights, you're going to find this discussion quite interesting.