Durham County Department of Social Services

What Durham County Department of Social Services does

Durham County Department of Social Services is a public government department within Durham County Government, North Carolina, established alongside the county's founding. It administers a comprehensive portfolio of statutorily mandated social and public health services to Durham County residents. Core service lines include Aging and Adult Services, Child and Family Services (foster care, adoption, child protective services), Child Support enforcement, Food and Nutrition Services (SNAP administration), Medicaid enrollment assistance, Public Health clinical and community programs (including the Nutrition Clinic, Maternal and Child Health, Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, Childbirth Education, and Lead Poisoning Prevention), and the Youth Home juvenile detention facility with the RYSE Assessment Center for youth diversion.

The department operates on standard government IT infrastructure with web-based service delivery through the dconc.gov portal. There are no proprietary technology products, no mobile apps, no published APIs, and no commercial software offerings. Service delivery is multi-channel: in-person at the 200 E Main Street county government office and the 2432 Broad Street RYSE center, via phone (919-560-8000 main; 919-560-7661 RYSE), and through a broad network of community partner organizations.

The business model is entirely publicly funded: the department is financed through Durham County property taxes, federal and state government grants and allocations for social services, public health, and community support programs. No commercial revenue, pricing model, or fee-for-service structure exists for core social services. The parent Durham County Government FY2026-2027 budget is $1.05 billion; the DSS-specific allocation is not separately disclosed. The department serves a single customer base — Durham County residents — with no competitive market, no churn exposure, and no revenue growth mechanics beyond annual budget appropriations and grant funding cycles.

Name

Durham County Department of Social Services

Legal name

Durham County Department of Social Services

Website

https://dconc.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Durham County Department of Social Services is a public government agency delivering mandated social and public health programs — including child welfare, SNAP, Medicaid, aging services, and juvenile detention — to Durham County, North Carolina residents, funded by taxes and federal/state grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Resources, Social Services & Transportation Coordination (HLADALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

County/District/Local Health Departments (HLAJAAAB), Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

Keywords

• Social services
• Public health programs
• Child welfare services
• Medicaid enrollment assistance
• Food nutrition assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham, NC

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Publicly funded through county tax revenues and federal/state government grants and allocations for social services, public health, and community support programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Durham County Department of Social Services administers county-level social services and public health programs for Durham County residents. Core offerings include Aging & Adult Services, Child & Family Services, Child Support Services, Food & Nutrition Services (SNAP), Medicaid enrollment, Public Health clinical and community programs, the Youth Home juvenile detention facility, and the RYSE Assessment Center for youth diversion.

Product overview

Durham County Department of Social Services operates as a county government agency providing a comprehensive suite of social and public health services. The department is organized into distinct service areas including Social Services (aging services, child/family services, child support, food/nutrition, Medicaid), Public Health Services (clinical services, community programming, environmental health), and the Youth Home (juvenile detention with counseling and diversion programs). Key programs include the RYSE Assessment Center for youth intervention, Family Matters Durham for maternal/child health, adolescent pregnancy prevention programs, childbirth education, and nutrition counseling. Services are delivered through multiple channels including in-person visits, virtual platforms, and community partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Social Services Comprehensive social services department offering Aging & Adult Services, Child & Family Services, Child Support Services, Food & Nutrition Services, and Medicaid enrollment assistance for Durham County residents.
• Public Health Services County public health department providing clinical services, community programming, environmental health, and health data services including WIC, immunizations, and maternal/child health programs.
• Youth Home Juvenile detention facility providing programs, counseling services, and support for youth including NCCU-Teens in Transition, substance abuse counseling, and educational supplements.
• RYSE Assessment Center Resources for Youth Success & Empowerment Assessment Center providing screening, referral services, and diversion programs for youth ages 10-17 facing social, emotional, or behavioral challenges.
• Maternal & Child Health (Family Matters Durham) Evidence-based program focused on improving birth outcomes, reducing infant mortality, and improving health status of children ages 0-5 through collaborative community partnerships.
• Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Research-based programs including Making a Difference (abstinence-based) and Making Proud Choices (safer-sex) designed to reduce teen pregnancy, STIs, and HIV risk among youth ages 12-18.
• Childbirth Education Free virtual childbirth course via Zoom covering physical/emotional changes, signs of labor, comfort techniques, and community resources across four two-hour classes.
• Nutrition Clinic Nutrition counseling clinic offering personalized nutrition plans for adults and children addressing weight management, diabetes, metabolic health, GI issues, and autoimmune conditions through registered dietitians.

Quantifiable outcome

• Historic low teen pregnancy rate of 20.1 per 1,000 females ages 15-19 in 2022, below state average of 22.1
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Federal agency initiating the Preconception Peer Educator Program that Family Matters Durham launched at NCCU.
• Court SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Home coordinates with the Court System for juvenile justice matters, working together on case management and youth outcomes.
• Office of Juvenile JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with North Carolina Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention on youth detention and rehabilitation programs.
• Department of Social ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternal coordination within the county government structure for comprehensive family and child services.
• Project BUILDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Intervention and Support Services program providing comprehensive youth and family support services.
• DCo Public Health Education & TestingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Durham County Public Health for health education, HIV/AIDS awareness, and wellness programs for detained youth.
• DCo OASIS (Older Adult & Shut-In Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Durham County Library's outreach service for homebound seniors and shut-in individuals.
• Alliance Behavioral HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal managed care organization providing mental health, substance use, and intellectual/developmental disability services.
• Duke Med MentorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer program providing mentorship at Youth Home through Duke University medical students.
• Duke Street LawminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer program providing legal education and services through Duke University law students.
• UNC Student VolunteersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of North Carolina student volunteers providing various services and support at Youth Home.
• NCCU Teens in TransitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Carolina Central University program supporting teens in transition at the Youth Home.
• Al-Anon/AlateenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMutual support resources for youth and families dealing with substance use issues in the community.
• Community Guidance ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity mental health clinic providing services and referrals for youth and families.
• Family Support NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily support services organization serving Durham County families in need.
• HopeLine, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDomestic violence support and resources for affected families in the community.
• YMCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity recreation and youth development services partner.
• Family Connects DurhamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree home visiting program for all parents of newborns in Durham County, part of the Maternal and Child Health initiative.
• MAAMEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization collaborating on Mothers and Babies sessions and educational trainings for maternal health.
• Breastfeed DurhamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal coalition supporting breastfeeding initiation and continuation in Durham County.
• Welcome Baby DurhamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting breastfeeding and maternal health services in partnership with Family Matters Durham.
• Lincoln Community Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederally Qualified Health Center providing primary care and referral services for underserved Durham residents.
• Duke HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare system providing referral and care coordination for public health patients.
• North Carolina Central UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Preconception Peer Educator Program launched January 2024, training student peer educators on campus.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Lincoln Community Health Center: Federally Qualified Health Center providing primary care for underserved Durham residents. Strategic partner of Durham DSS with overlapping Medicaid-eligible client base and referral flows.
• Alliance Behavioral Healthcare: Local managed care organization providing mental health, substance use, and intellectual/developmental disability services in Durham County. Strategic partner of Durham DSS operating overlapping behavioral-health and case-management functions.
• Duke Health (Duke University Health System): Major academic health system providing referral and care coordination for public health patients via Durham DSS partnerships. Overlapping maternal/child health and Medicaid populations in Durham.

Direct peers

• Wake County Department of Social Services: Adjacent NC county DSS operating Aging, Child Welfare, Food & Nutrition, and Medicaid programs for Wake County residents. Directly comparable structure, mandate set, and funding model; same NC state oversight.
• Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services (Charlotte): Urban NC county DSS in Charlotte with similar Aging, Child & Family Services, Economic Services, and Medicaid portfolio. Comparable scale and service breadth; useful for benchmarking program design and outcomes.
• Durham County Public Health Department: Sister county agency providing clinical, community, and environmental health services under the same Durham County Government umbrella. Overlapping client base, co-located programs (Family Matters Durham, RYSE referrals), and shared funding.
• Orange County Department of Social Services (NC): Neighboring NC county DSS delivering the same Aging, Child Welfare, Food & Nutrition, and Medicaid programs. Most directly comparable peer given geography, university-town demographics, and similar program mix.

Others

• Family Support Network of Durham: Nonprofit providing family support services and serving Durham County families in need; listed as a Durham DSS community partner. Operates in adjacent family-services space with overlapping client base.
• YMCA of Durham County: Community recreation and youth development partner of Durham DSS. Adjacent provider of youth and family programming with co-referral relationships.

Broad incumbents

• NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS): State-level agency that funds, regulates, and oversees county DSS offices across NC. Sets policy and reimbursement frameworks that Durham County DSS operates within; primary upstream governing body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/durham-county-department-of-social-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Durham County Department of Social Services