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Social services bring $11.9 million to county

By Nancy Lindsey

Federal dollars totaling $11,975,708 came to Patrick County through social services programs during the second half of 2011, according to Joan Rogers, director of the Patrick County Social Services Department.

Those funds "have indeed stimulated the economy," Rogers told the Patrick County Board of Supervisors last month.

"A lot of local businesses receive these federal dollars," Rogers said, citing heating oil companies, grocery stores, the local hospital, the nursing home, doctors' offices, pharmacies, convenience stores and other businesses.

The largest amount of federal funds, estimated at $8,774,121, comes from the Medicaid program, which provides health care services for indigent children and adults, especially the elderly.

The average number of individuals served by Medicaid per month is 3,296, Rogers said, which is 18% of the county's population.

The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamp program, brought $2,484,138 in federal dollars into the county between June 1 and Nov. 30, 2011, Rogers said.

The average number of individuals receiving SNAP benefits per month is 3,578, Rogers reported, which is 20% of Patrick's population.

The Energy Assistance Program brought $558,203 into the county during the same period, serving 1,835 households, Rogers said.

The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program served 272 families per month and brought $159,246 into the county, Rogers said.

The total number of people who came to the social services department during the first half of 2011 was 8,673.

Those programs are all handled by the "eligibility unit," consisting of nine employees, according to Rogers' report.

The "service unit" consists of eight social workers who investigate adult and child protective services cases. There are five people in the "administrative unit," making a total of 22 employees.

Social workers had 329 contacts by office visit or phone calls during the period. Their work included 59 adult protective services investigations; an average of 17 adult protective services ongoing cases per month; 35 total nursing home or personal care screenings; 12 adult home screenings; 10 companion services cases per month (limited due to the budget); and an average of 20 other adult services cases per month.

Social workers also investigated 72 child protective services cases involving suspected child abuse or neglect; monitored an average of six ongoing cases per month; conducted court-ordered supervision in 13 abuse or neglect cases; and prepared an average of one court report per month.

Patrick County has an average of two foster care cases per month and five approved foster care or adoptive homes, Rogers said.

Fifty families are served each month by day care services, and the unit also provided to in-service day care training sessions for providers, Rogers reported.

A total of $10,617 was collected during the period in overpayments in fraud cases, Rogers said. "If there is fraud, our workers catch it," she said.

Peters Creek District Supervisor Lock Boyce, board chairman, commented, "Our agency here is very busy, and is also very good for its size. It's the top agency in the state and does a top-notch job."

Blue Ridge District Supervisor Karl Weiss asked if any entity in the social services department "focuses on helping people get jobs."

Rogers said people receiving TANF benefits are required to do 35 hours of searching for a job.

"In order to receive the funds they must be seeking employment," Rogers said. "We try to help people become self-sufficient."

Without social services, people would be hurt even more by the economy, Dan River District Supervisor Roger Hayden said.

"It's a good thing we have some way to help people," Hayden said.


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		Social services bring $11.9 million to county By Nancy Lindsey Federal dollars totaling $11,975,708 came to Patrick County through social services programs during the second half of 2011, according to Joan Rogers, director of the Patrick County Social Services Department. Those funds "have indeed stimulated the economy," Rogers told the Patrick County Board of Supervisors last month. "A lot of local businesses receive these federal dollars," Rogers said, citing heating oil companies, grocery stores, the local hospital, the nursing home, doctors' offices, pharmacies, convenience stores and other businesses. The largest amount of federal funds, estimated at $8,774,121, comes from the Medicaid program, which provides health care services for indigent children and adults, especially the elderly. The average number of individuals served by Medicaid per month is 3,296, Rogers said, which is 18% of the county's population. The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamp program, brought $2,484,138 in federal dollars into the county between June 1 and Nov. 30, 2011, Rogers said. The average number of individuals receiving SNAP benefits per month is 3,578, Rogers reported, which is 20% of Patrick's population. The Energy Assistance Program brought $558,203 into the county during the same period, serving 1,835 households, Rogers said. The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program served 272 families per month and brought $159,246 into the county, Rogers said. The total number of people who came to the social services department during the first half of 2011 was 8,673. Those programs are all handled by the "eligibility unit," consisting of nine employees, according to Rogers' report. The "service unit" consists of eight social workers who investigate adult and child protective services cases. There are five people in the "administrative unit," making a total of 22 employees. Social workers had 329 contacts by office visit or phone calls during the period. Their work included 59 adult protective services investigations; an average of 17 adult protective services ongoing cases per month; 35 total nursing home or personal care screenings; 12 adult home screenings; 10 companion services cases per month (limited due to the budget); and an average of 20 other adult services cases per month. Social workers also investigated 72 child protective services cases involving suspected child abuse or neglect; monitored an average of six ongoing cases per month; conducted court-ordered supervision in 13 abuse or neglect cases; and prepared an average of one court report per month. Patrick County has an average of two foster care cases per month and five approved foster care or adoptive homes, Rogers said. Fifty families are served each month by day care services, and the unit also provided to in-service day care training sessions for providers, Rogers reported. A total of $10,617 was collected during the period in overpayments in fraud cases, Rogers said. "If there is fraud, our workers catch it," she said. Peters Creek District Supervisor Lock Boyce, board chairman, commented, "Our agency here is very busy, and is also very good for its size. It's the top agency in the state and does a top-notch job." Blue Ridge District Supervisor Karl Weiss asked if any entity in the social services department "focuses on helping people get jobs." Rogers said people receiving TANF benefits are required to do 35 hours of searching for a job. "In order to receive the funds they must be seeking employment," Rogers said. "We try to help people become self-sufficient." Without social services, people would be hurt even more by the economy, Dan River District Supervisor Roger Hayden said. "It's a good thing we have some way to help people," Hayden said.