Jessica Brickey, who serves as a Foster Care Social Worker (Social Worker IV) for the Dare County Department of Health & Human Services’ Social Services Division, has been named Dare County Employee of the Month for August 2025. The prestigious award was presented to Brickey by Division Director Chuck Lycett during the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting that was held at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.*

Brickey’s service to Dare County began on May 21, 2018, when she was hired to serve as a Child Protective Services Social Worker on Hatteras Island, operating out of the Department of Health & Human Services office located in Frisco. In 2022, she transitioned to the department’s main office in Manteo, where she joined the Permanency Planning Unit as a Foster Care Social Worker.    

In this role, Brickey is responsible for performing a variety of important duties to help protect and improve the health and well-being of Dare County children and families in need of assistance, including investigating reports of child abuse and neglect, working with families to identify their needs and assess the ongoing risk of harm; developing treatment plans and providing the appropriate referrals by connecting children and family members to community resources and services—all with the primary goal of reunifying families. When the court determines that reunification is no longer a goal, Brickey and her team work to secure safe, loving, long-term permanent placements for children.

Dare County Social Services Division Director Chuck Lycett presents the certificate to Foster Care Social Worker Jessica Brickey.

“I think we can all agree that, at one time or another, we have had a staff person who we can characterize as the silent achiever,” Lycett said as he began his Employee of the Month presentation. “This is someone who quietly goes about mastering their skills, influences change, and can be called upon to tackle the most difficult assignments. For Social Services, that person is Jessica Brickey.”

“She is part of a Child Welfare Unit that excels in their work because of their ability to operate as a team—Jessica has been no different,” said Lycett, who continued by noting that while she remains focused on serving the children and families who comprise her caseload, Brickey also frequently seeks out opportunities to jump in and assist her coworkers whenever and wherever she may be needed. “In addition to her role as a Foster Care Social Worker, she takes her turn as the intake social worker and on-call social worker. She’s the ultimate team player.”

Lycett then shed some additional light on the remarkable dedication Brickey demonstrates in carrying out her responsibilities, making a point to share a few key details about the countless ways she adjusts her schedule and makes personal sacrifices in order to meet the needs of the children and families she serves—commitments that often extend far beyond the bounds of a normal workday.

“For Jessica, the term ‘normal workday’ does not exist,” said Lycett. “Some days, her work begins at 5 a.m. to accommodate the schedules of the family she serves. Another day, she’s returning from an out-of-town visit with children and parents well after her own family has eaten dinner. She works tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of foster children while supporting parents in their efforts towards reunification. When that’s not possible, she’s equally dedicated to finding safe, loving, long-term placements. She ensures that children she’s entrusted to work with have the best services and caregivers possible.” 

Dare County Foster Care Social Worker Jessica Brickey stands with colleagues who attended the presentation.

As he continued his presentation, Lycett provided specific examples of the way Brickey has routinely gone above and beyond the call of her duties to assist one of the families she works with, even when it requires putting in time outside of her regularly scheduled work hours.

“Let me enlighten you with two of Jessica’s accomplishments: Most recently, she assisted a mom with reunifying with her child after a stay at a residential rehabilitation program. Jessica increased her visits—even though it was several hours away—to ensure that the family received comprehensive services and created a wraparound plan for when they returned to Dare County,” Lycett shared. “For another family, transportation was limited, and the family was not going to be able to attend the child’s awards banquet or fall festival—events the child was looking forward to. Jessica made sure to rearrange her own schedule, traveling to ensure the mother and child attended the banquet and festival.”

In addition to Lycett, Brickey also received praise for her extensive efforts from her colleagues within the Dare County Department of Health & Human Services’ Social Services Division who submitted nomination forms recommending that she receive the honor of being named Dare County Employee of the Month for August 2025. 

“Despite the long hours and emotionally demanding work, Jessica is always approachable, warm and supportive. She’s quick to lend a hand—whether covering intake, finding crucial resources for a family or checking in with a teammate who’s managing a difficult case,” stated one nomination form. “She embodies the very best of what social work stands for and dispels the negative stereotypes that sometimes surround the profession. Her work ethic, compassion and dedication make her not only an outstanding social worker but also an invaluable member of our team. Jessica is truly deserving of Employee of the Month recognition.”

As he began to conclude his remarks, Lycett commented, “In the most chaotic environments, Jessica is a calming presence. Whether it’s advocating for a foster child’s mental health evaluation or de-escalating a tense conversation with a parent, she handles every situation with patience, professionalism and empathy. She embodies the very best of what social work stands for—and with that, I am proud to present you the August 2025 Dare County Employee of the Month: Jessica Brickey.”

Dare County Foster Care Social Worker Jessica Brickey holds her August 2025 Employee of the Month certificate.

For more information about the wide array of programs, services and resources that are provided by the Dare County Department of Health & Human Services, please visit DareNC.gov/Health.