Apr 2, 2015 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – Changes in the state’s child protective services laws, which were implemented Dec. 31, had a “major impact” on the workload of caseworkers at Greene County Children and Youth Services.

The agency experienced a 71 percent increase in incidents of reported child abuse and an 80 percent increase in families served during the first three months of the year compared to same time last year, Stacey Courtwright, CYS administrator, told county commissioners Thursday.

During the same time period, CYS also saw a 68 percent increase in the number of children served in relation to reported abuse or neglect, Courtwright said, citing the statistics in a brief presentation to the commissioners, who approved a proclamation in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

From January through March, CYS handled 292 incidents of alleged child abuse, involving 227 families and 482 children, Courtwright said.

“As we continue to maintain the agency’s goals, which are permanency, safety and the well-being of children, the agency has been extremely busy,” she said.

The increase in reported cases of abuse result from changes in the child protective services laws, Bennett said. The changes came in the wake of the conviction of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky for sexually abusing several boys.

The laws changed the definition of what constitutes child abuse and expanded the list of people defined as mandatory reporters, she said. In addition, changes in the reporting process now require an almost immediate response to any allegation of abuse or neglect.

Before, the list of mandatory reporters was limited, Bennett said. Now, almost anyone 18 and older who works with children, including soccer coaches and pastors, is now considered a mandatory reporter, she said.

“Because of the changes in the definition and more mandated reporters, we’ve been getting more and more calls,” she said.

In accordance with state guidelines, the increase in the workload required the county to create a second child abuse intake unit, which includes a supervisor and five caseworkers.

The new intake unit is being formed during a two-year period, Bennett said. A supervisor and three caseworkers were hired this fiscal year for the new unit; two more caseworkers will come on board next fiscal year, she said.

The commissioners also approved proclamations recognizing Grange Month and National Library Week, April 12-18.

As part of their agenda, the commissioners awarded a contract to repair Murtha Drive at the former Waynesburg Crossing retail development in Franklin Township.

The contract was awarded to Morgan Excavating of Belle Vernon, which submitted low bid of $347,592.

Four bids were received for repairing 31 areas on the slightly less than a mile of road damaged primarily as a result of poor water drainage, said Jeff Marshall, county chief clerk.

The work will involve making repairs to the road’s surface and subsurface, where needed, and drainage improvements. The repairs will be completed in the spring or early summer and may involve some traffic restrictions, Marshall said.

The commissioners also appointed Maria Halow to the Greene County Library Board and approved a contract with Gregory Hook for legal services for the human services department.