Funding fails to keep pace with need

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One agency's federal funding is being cut by $855,000.

By LAURE CIOFFI

VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — The numbers appear to be moving in the wrong direction for agencies like Lawrence County Children and Youth Services.

The number of children who need services is rising dramatically, but federal funding — which pays for most, if not all of the services youngsters receive — is being cut.

CYS Director Jane Gajda was among those involved with social services in Lawrence County who laid out the facts for U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart of Bradford Woods, R-4th, on Friday at a roundtable discussion on domestic violence. Hart's congressional district includes Lawrence and Mercer counties.

"The numbers are alarming to me," Gajda said.

In 2004, the agency handled 716 referrals of child abuse. That number leaped to 861 for 2005. The current year's numbers have not been compiled.

She said in addition to the child abuse, they find the parents have other issues such as homelessness and mental illness.

"I've seen such a drastic increase. Things are not getting better for our parents and our children," Gajda said.

She said that her agency expects to see $855,000 in federal cuts.

"More and more expectations are being placed on the county, and we don't have the resources," she said.

Advocacy center

The Children's Advocacy Center of Lawrence County has seen similar increases in services. It generally serves about 150 children a year, said Sue Ascione, director. This year the agency has seen 213 children, and about 60 percent of those involve sexual abuse, she said.

The increases don't end there. The Lawrence County Crisis Shelter has recently had four women each in their ninth month of pregnancy come to the shelter, said Melissa Pearce, director. Just a month later, six infants each younger than six months came to the shelter with their mothers, she added.

Lawrence County has tried to meet its needs by forming coalitions to ensure they don't duplicate services, said Debbie Hennon of Lawrence County Social Services.

"It's a struggle with the money going down, but Lawrence County has tried to meet the needs," Hennon added.

Hart said she would look into the funding cuts but noted that it is the goal of Congress to have fewer streams of funding and eliminate ineffective services.

cioffi@vindy.com

Saturday, October 7, 2006