County welfare figures swell to an all-time high

The money provides for transportation, and medical services to children.
WARREN -- Trumbull County is experiencing its highest numbers ever for public assistance to the needy, says the director of county's Department of Job and Family Services.
Thomas Mahoney told county commissioners Wednesday that close to a third of the county's population is on some form of public assistance.
"I've never seen it worse," he said.
Mahoney made his comments while noting that his agency is renewing $842,350 worth of contracts with agencies that serve the needy.
While the county's population has decreased from 224,986 to 220,486 since 2000, according to the U.S. Census, the number of those receiving aid, notably children, continues to rise, Mahoney said.
Renewed contracts
Contracts to be renewed by commissioners today do not require use of the county's general operating funds. All of these renewals are based upon the level of need from the previous year, Mahoney said.
The eight contracts from July 1 through June 30, 2006, are:
UTrumbull County Office of Elderly Affairs, 2959 Youngstown Road S.E., $20,000 paid from federal "pass-through" funds, for enhanced Medicaid transportation services, on a nonemergency basis, to and from Medicaid providers who provide reimbursable services.
UTrumbull County Office of Elderly Affairs, $16,000 from federal social services funds, for nonemergency transportation to medical providers and facilities in the county.
UBuilding Bridges to Destiny Inc., 160 E. Market St. Suite 200, $130,000 from Temporary Assistance to Needy Families funds, for pre-employment job seeking skills, vocational evaluation and assessment, training, job placement and follow-up for Ohio Works First recipients.
UMiller's USA Taxi and Wheelchair Transport Inc., 1964 Tod Ave. S.W., $450,000 from federal "pass through" funds for enhanced Medicaid transportation on a nonemergency basis, to and from Medicaid providers who provide reimbursable services.
UMiller's USA Taxi, $450,000 from TANF funds, for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families transportation.
UValley Counseling Services Inc., 150 E. Market St., for $1,350, from federal social services funds, for mental health assessments for Adult Protective Services clients.
UTrumbull County Board of Mental Retardation & amp; Developmental Disabilities, 45 North Road, Niles, $25,000 from Help Me Grow grant funds. In this case, J & amp;FS is the administrative agent for the Family and Children First Council's Help Me Grow effort. The MRDD staff will perform developmental evaluations for children from birth to age 3.
UTrumbull County Health Department, 176 Chestnut St., $80,000 from Help Me Grow grant funds. Again, J & amp;FS is the administrative agent. The health department will coordinate and provide prenatal and newborn home visiting services to eligible residents of the county's Help Me Grow program.