Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Energy and emergency assistance programs have also seen increases in recent months. <br /> Social Services provides assistance with heating, cooling,rent, gasoline, medicine and <br /> other emergent needs for clients meeting income guidelines and other eligibility criteria. <br /> The chart below shows the number of clients served in these programs in December of <br /> 2007 and December of 2008. <br /> December 2007 December 2008 <br /> Emergency Programs 326 People 374 People <br /> This correlates to an almost 15% increase in the number of clients served in these <br /> programs. <br /> The increase in caseloads has triggered workload management problems for the agency. <br /> The number of clients visiting the agency on a monthly basis has also increased. This <br /> trend is particularly noteworthy given that the agency is now accepting applications in a <br /> number of programs through the mail. The following chart lists the number of clients <br /> visiting the agency during the months of October-December in 2007 and 2008. <br /> Month 2007 Clients 2008 Clients <br /> October 2172 2394 <br /> November 2253 2259 <br /> December 2331 2593 <br /> There has been an 11% increase in the number of clients visiting the agency from <br /> December 2007 and December of 2008. <br /> As numbers have increased, staffing levels have not kept pace. One new staff member <br /> was added to the Orange County Department of Social Services in 2001-02 and another <br /> was added in 2007-08. A new document management system was installed in 2008, but <br /> staffing needs remain a concern. <br /> Social Work Services <br /> In an economic crisis there are more stresses placed upon families requiring an even <br /> greater need for community social work services. Many of the families that present for <br /> public assistance during difficult economic times actually need social work services to <br /> help them find and afford child care, secure housing, and find employment. Prevention <br /> social work services significantly reduce instances of child abuse and neglect and <br /> episodic homelessness by providing counseling services and helping families pay rent, <br /> light and heat bills. <br /> Since increased stresses on families create higher potential for child endangerment, good <br /> prevention services are critical to protecting this vulnerable population. With an increase <br /> in demand and with the increased board rate and changes in the payment process for <br /> foster placements, the agency is already anticipating a net increase of$100,000 between <br />