Mission
We strengthen families and communities through a safety-net of services, collaborations, and hope.
Vision
To define and cultivate an organizational culture that is more compassionate and understanding toward each other and our clients.
Strategic Business Plan
Strategic Business Plan
Social Services Leadership Team
Dr. Jacqueline McKnight, Social Services Deputy Director
Dr. McKnight brings over 30 years of experience in overseeing administrative operations and developing programs that positively impact the lives of participants. Prior to accepting this role, Dr. McKnight served as the Executive Deputy Commissioner with the New York City Administration for Children’s Services. Dr. McKnight has provided oversight to over 4,000 staff members and a diverse network of contracted providers. She has also been responsible for the oversight, integration, and coordination of child welfare programs, both public and private, toward better outcomes for children and families. She has a wealth of experience including work focused on prevention, interagency collaborations, substance abuse and interpersonal violence among African American women.
Dr. McKnight achieved her Bachelors in Social Work from York College CUNY, her Masters in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work, and her Doctorate of Philosophy from Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services. She is the recipient of the Children FIRST Doctoral Fellowship, 2004 and 2005, and the NASW Top Leader Award in 2016.
Charles Bradley, Youth & Family Services Director
Charles Bradley is the Youth and Family Services (YFS) Director responsible for leadership and oversight of over 400 staff who work collaboratively with key community stakeholders to strength families and communities to keep children safe. Bradley has been a YFS employee since March, 2004 and held the position of Sr. Social Services Manager prior to being named as the YFS Division Director. Prior to joining Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services Youth and Family Services Division, Bradley was employed at the Connecticut Department of Children and Families in the positions of Program Supervisor, Social Work Supervisor and Social Worker.
Bradley earned a Master of Social Work degree from Fordham University (New York, NY) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Trinity College (Hartford, CT). He brings a wealth of knowledge, commitment and enthusiasm for the difficult and important work of YFS.
Hollye McCallum, Operations, Strategy, & Innovation Director
Hollye McCallum, serves as the Director of Operations, Strategy, and Innovation (OSI) at Mecklenburg County’s Department of Social Services. This division is responsible for providing coordinated organizational support and service delivery across all department programs. With a focus on internal support, she is responsible for oversight of department-wide initiatives and planning to include performance management, budget development, continuity of operations, compliance and continuous quality improvement, as well as training and professional development.
McCallum has served in the human services field for more than thirteen years. She began her career in Richmond, VA providing case management services to children and families. In 2009, she joined Mecklenburg County DSS as a Management Analyst responsible for researching and analyzing emerging trends in the human services field and also served as Business Manager for the department.
McCallum earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from Elon University, NC, her Master’s in Criminal Justice from Virginia Commonwealth University, and is a graduate of both the UNC-Charlotte MPA Public Management certificate program and Charlotte’s Leadership Under 40 program and has served her community well as an Impact Volunteer for United Way and an Advisory Board member for Nurse Family Partnership. In 2017 McCallum was nominated and selected to participate in the American Public Human Services Association Emerging Leaders program.
McCallum is married and has three boys. In her spare time, you can catch her curled up with a good book!
Gregory Tanner, Adult Services Director
Gregory Tanner serves as the Division Director of Adult Services. He is responsible for the oversight of all Adult Programming including Guardianship, Adult Protective Services, Senior Citizen Nutrition Services, Non-Emergency Medical Transportation and Just 1 Call.
Tanner, a native of NC, brings over 20 years of experience in public administration, advocacy and gerontology. Most recently, he served as the AARP Georgia State Director. As State Director, Tanner provided strategic guidance and lead management, to his team and more than 300 volunteers, to implement new initiatives and community outreach programs for Georgia's 1 million AARP members. In this role, he led efforts to address national, state and local campaigns to help improve the quality of life and care for older adults through advocating for The Older American's Act, Social Security solvency, Care Act, Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act, fraud and abuse prevention and increased public awareness of food insecurities for people 50 and older. Mr. Tanner was instrumental in leading the completion of AARP's Age Friendly communities in Atlanta and Macon-Bibb, Georgia.
Prior to relocating to Georgia, as the State Director, Tanner served as the Associate State Director for AARP North Carolina. In this position he helped increase AARP's brand with diverse organizations; led and expanded public awareness of fraud and scams targeting North Carolina seniors; worked with hunger initiatives and expanded AARP caregiving program for families in need of assistance for their loved ones with dementia or Alzheimer's Disease. While with AARP, he co-authored the Governor's report on Emergency Relocation of Abused Adults and was awarded North Carolina's Consumer Fraud Task Force Private Sector Award for his work on behalf of protecting older adults.
Prior to joining AARP, Tanner served as the Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman with Lumber River Area Agency on Aging and the six counties within its region. His primary role was to serve as a resident advocate—ensuring that each resident received the highest level of care. Tanner also addressed policy issues that impacted the quality of life of residents while working with family councils and the community.
Tanner has served on several boards including AT&T Advisory Board, North Carolina Consumer Fraud Task Force, YMCA of Kennesaw, Georgia and was a gubernatorial appointee to the Georgia Aging Advisory Committee. He is a graduate of North Carolina Central University and is married with four children.