Allendale County DSS Director Honored During Social Worker Appreciation Month

Salley Branch, director of the Allendale County Department of Social Services, was featured Monday in a video message released by the South Carolina Department of Social Services as part of its National Social Worker Appreciation Month campaign. The March 16 spotlight is one of several the state agency is sharing throughout the month to underscore the role DSS professionals play in communities across the state.

Branch's feature is part of a broader campaign in which SC DSS highlights individual workers and offices. Dawn Barton is among others slated to appear in the series, though the state agency has not provided additional details about Barton's role or the content of her message.

The recognition arrives against a backdrop of sustained, ground-level work in Allendale and neighboring Hampton County. Staff at Family Solutions, a perinatal and community services organization serving both rural counties, represent the kind of long-term commitment the statewide campaign aims to spotlight.

Penny Cherry has worked with Family Solutions for 12 years, splitting her time between roles as a Perinatal Social Worker and a Reproductive Health Specialist. In the latter capacity, she helps women navigate the process of obtaining contraception. She is also pursuing a Master of Social Work degree at Walden University. Sara H. Myers, who joined Family Solutions in 2007, conducts home visits for pregnant women and their families across Allendale and Hampton counties, helping clients secure employment, education, and child care. She also distributes Pack-and-Plays to clients and colleagues, and holds a CNA certification. Romaine Stephens, who joined the organization in 2010, now serves as Family Solutions' Director of Community Engagement. Otiti Uwagbai-Wright is also listed among Family Solutions staff serving the area.

Allendale County has also drawn attention from the SC Office of Rural Health, which features the county's SMART BOX initiative in its ongoing #PowerofRural spotlight series, a statewide program celebrating people and places that "exemplify the unique character of South Carolina's rural communities."

SC DSS directs residents interested in careers or services to sc.gov, or to text DSS to 211 to learn more. Family Solutions can be reached at 803-454-3850.