Carroll poverty rate, aid on rise, commissioners told

from The New Philadelphia Times Reporter

By NANCY SCHAAR, T-R Staff Correspondent

CARROLLTON – Kate Offenberger, director of Carroll County Job & Family Services, presented a report to county commissioners from the Public Children’s Services Agency on child abuse and neglect, poverty, unemployment, subsidized child care, aid programs and profiles of children in custody for Carroll and surrounding counties.

In Carroll County, the poverty rate increased to 12.7 percent in 2004 from the 2000 census rate of 11.4 percent. The child poverty rate decreased to 13.5 percent from 17.2 percent in the same period, which leaves 981 county children living in poverty.

The number of county residents receiving nutritional assistance increased 55 percent, and the number of children whose families received subsidized child care increased 26 percent. Children in county custody increased from 11 in 1999 to 29 in 2005.

Offenberger also reported that the department will get a new child welfare computer system in the fall as part of a statewide automated system.

Applications for the clothing voucher program are still being accepted this week, Offenberger said. Any resident who thinks he or she qualifies should contact her office.