Guilford County government – like county governments across the country – is celebrating “National County Government Month” during the month of April, which, not coincidentally, is National County Government Month.

So, the timing seems right.

On Thursday, April 4, Guilford County’s Public Relations Department used the opportunity to remind citizens, in a press release, of all the benefits Guilford County government bestows on its residents. In their words, the summary is meant “to showcase how the county helps empower Successful People to thrive in a Strong Community supported by a Quality Government.”

For instance, did you know, “The Division of Social Services processes nearly 150,000 benefits applications and recertifications yearly.”

The Division does do a lot of good work; however, Child Welfare Services came under extreme scrutiny from the state last year after the tragic deaths of several children that the department was overseeing at the time. A subsequent investigation revealed wholesale failures in many areas of Child Welfare Services.

In other positive news, in 2023, the Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services launched a new Division of Health Benefits to address Medicaid Expansion. That took a whole lot of work but seems to be functioning well.  As of March 2024, more than 21,900 county residents had been enrolled into Medicaid as part of that expansion.

The April 4 press relief also touts the work of the Guilford County Division of Public Health, which, on a yearly basis, checks in on about 5,000 maternity cases, makes roughly 4,000 newborn home visits and inspects around 5,000 food and lodging establishments.

And, recently, Public Health established a substance use collaborative  – the Guilford Overdose Prevention and Education Collective.

Here are some other Guilford County accomplishments in 2023:

  • The county’s Family Justice Center assisted more than 12,900 victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and elder abuse.
  • Last year, Veterans Services assisted more than 5,540 veterans and other clients.
  • Guilford County Emergency Services responded to more than 82,700 calls and streamlined and otherwise improved a countywide fire records management system.
  • In 2023, Guilford County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to more than 26,200 service calls.
  • Last year, Animal Services processed more than 4,440 pet adoptions, administered more than 650 rabies vaccines and distributed over 9,550 pounds of pet food.
  • In 2023, the county’s Cooperative Extension worked with community organizations and area farmers to distribute locally grown produce, locally raised beef and chicken, and other food items to families. In December, for instance, the Cooperative helped distribute over 500 substantial boxes of food to families, seniors and people with disabilities.

The county’s Parks Department opened the Hines Chapel Preserve last year, which spans over 450 acres.  The department also made many other improvements to the parks system with new trails, activities and other enhancements.

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