Pender County opens new Health and Human Services facility in Burgaw

BURGAW, N.C. (WWAY) — Pender County residents now have expanded access to public healthcare and social services through a new centralized Health and Human Services facility in Burgaw.

County leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday for the new 89,000-square-foot building on Progress Drive, bringing the county’s health department and social services department together under one roof.

“For a long time our health department and our social services department has been spread across multiple facilities across our campus,” Pender County Manager Colby Sawyer said.

Sawyer said the county’s previous health department location had limited space and exam rooms.

“We had four or five exam rooms in the old health department, people were sitting in closets,” Sawyer said.

The $40 million facility includes public health programs, social services, dental care, immunizations, WIC services and other resources for residents.

“For our residents that means that no matter what you need a little extra help with this is a facility that you can come to get it,” Sawyer said.

The new facility also includes additional security features in Department of Social Services offices, allowing social workers to meet with clients in secured spaces with direct access to assistance if needed.

Officials said the building also features fully furnished DSS visitation rooms with kitchens and bathrooms where clients can learn daily living skills such as cooking and doing laundry.

Health and Human Services Director Carolyn Moser said residents previously did not always take advantage of all available services because departments were spread across multiple locations.

“They say ‘I don’t want to take one more step any further than I have to.’ So, it’s a great chance for someone to come in and get everything they need and feel like when they leave here that they’ve been taken care of,” Moser said.

Sawyer said bringing departments together under one roof will improve communication and efficiency among staff.

“By bringing everybody together under one roof what used to take a phone call, an email or a trip across the building now takes a quick stick your head over the desk or stick your head over the cubicle so it allows us to be a little more efficient,” Sawyer said.

County leaders said the facility was designed to serve the community for decades and is also expected to create additional job opportunities.