Iredell commissioners honor retiree for service to foster children, community

Posted on by Mike Fuhrman
Iredell County commissioners honored Patsy Dalton, a recent retiree with the Department of Social Services, for her service to the children and families in Iredell County. Pictured (from left) are Yvette Smith, director of Social Services, Dalton and Chairman James Mallory.

BY KARISSA MILLER

The Iredell County Board of Commissioners recently honored Patsy Dalton for her dedication and service to local foster children.

Her work at the Department of Social Services will have a lasting impact on the community, Chairman James Mallory said before presenting Dalton with a plaque during the board’s August 18 meeting.

A co-worker made the following comment, which Mallory shared:

“Mrs. Dalton will be missed as she was known for having a great rapport with many of our clients — especially the children that developed relationships with her that are still significant to them,” he said. “They viewed her as someone that nurtured them and listened to them without judgment.”

Dalton began work at DSS on July 31, 2014, and retired after six years on July 31, 2020.

Dalton, who earned a certification in Information Technology at Mitchell Community College, started at DSS as a transportation assistant in the Foster Care Unit. In this role, she was responsible for taking children to and from visits with their birth parents, getting children to doctor’s appointments, and helping children participate in their permanency planning meetings and juvenile court hearings.

Later, Dalton was promoted to processing assistant IV in Foster Care Licensing and Adoptions. In this role, she provided clerical and administrative support to the team by maintaining adoption records, submitting foster home licenses to the State Office and preparing for annual events that enhanced the adoption and foster care programs.

She also assisted with many other assigned duties, including being a support and a relief worker to the agency front desk staff and assisting with with Medicaid Transportation.

Co-workers and team members celebrated Dalton’s retirement on her last day of work by providing a luncheon.

An avid reader, she received a gift basket filled with books, candles, cards and other mementos.

This is Dalton’s second time retiring from the workforce. She plans to spend time with her husband, children, grandchildren, other family members and friends.