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JFS officials will attend hearings
The director plans to meet with local legislators to discuss the funding dilemma.
SALEM — Potential funding cuts in federal aid may result in reductions in programs for a county agency that helps the needy as well as staff layoffs.
Eileen Dray-Bardon, director of Columbiana County’s Department of Job and Family services, told the commissioners Wednesday that she and other JFS officials would go to Columbus next week for hearings on the issue.
Dray-Bardon said the county could see cuts of $898,967 in federal Title XX funds that are used for a variety of programs.
The programs affected locally include information on domestic violence, guardianships and other services for adults with mental impairments, and mentoring for adults who help children in the court system.
The cuts also may eliminate the information and referral system that directs the needy to specific agencies to help meet their needs.
The revenue drop also may force the layoff of 12 social workers who help investigate child-abuse allegations and provide protective services.
The department also could see cuts in income maintenance services that help the needy keep jobs. That money, along with a shift in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding, may result in either a deficit of $170,000 or layoffs of four workers in the JFS income maintenance program.
“We can’t absorb a hit of $1 million,” Dray-Bardon said.
She added that she plans to meet with state Rep. Linda Bolon of Columbiana, D-1st, and state Sen. Jason Wilson of Columbiana, D-30th. Both officials have strong backgrounds in finance.
Commissioner Jim Hoppel questioned whether the commissioners could write a letter of concern to state officials “who make these decisions.”
The JFS received more than 400 requests for assistance in January and February this year. The county has seen those numbers at other hard economic times.
Dray-Bardon said the highest numbers she could recall were in 1983, when the county received 987 requests a month for help in the wake of the closing of the Crucible Steel plant in Midland, Pa.
wilkinson@vindy.com