DSS is broken in most all states. Not just NC. DSS workers are understaffed and overloaded most everywhere. We only hear about the worst case scenerios. DSS does help some children, but that is never reported. It is easy to criticize from the outside looking in. I agree that DSS as a whole needs drastic revamping, but that is not going to happen without funding, and funding comes from raising taxes, and no one wants to hear that. The state os NC is in a deep financial crisis, state employees have not had a raise in 4 years and last year a part of the salary was taken back out of paychecks.
No child's life is worth losing over money, but you have to have money to pay people to do these jobs. That is just a stark reality. You can only do so much with so few people.