As the rate of child abuse and neglect continues to rise in Monroe County, local advocates are urging county lawmakers to increase funding for more child protective caseworkers.
This is one of the recommendations the nonprofit Children's Agenda will make tonight as representatives testify at the Ways and Means Committee meeting.
Brigit Hurley, a policy analyst for the Children's Agenda, says the county takes an average 27 reports of child abuse and maltreatment each day, a 33 percent increase since 2014.
A number of factors are believed to be contributing to the problem.
"The opioid epidemic has hit Monroe County, so that's certainly is showing up as a factor,” Hurley said. “It could be a parent who's working a couple of jobs and doesn't have child care, and so the young ones are taking care of their siblings."
The Children's Agenda is recommending that the county spend an additional $900,000 dollars to provide child care subsidies for 130 more children.
"This gives an extra subsidy so the parent can choose high quality care for their children, which allows them to be more stable and reliable at work, and allows the children to receive developmentally appropriate care so they land at the kindergarten door ready to learn."
The organization also wants to see more preventive services to reverse a recent trend of rising foster care placements. The Children’s Agenda report, to be publicly released today, says CPS workers carry unrealistic caseloads and responsibility. Hurley said the county already did commit to filling vacant positions in the department.
"Moving forward though, it's not clear that that's even going to meet the need. The standard is 12 cases per caseworker and Monroe County right now is far from that, so we're also recommending that they add more positions."
There is a high turnover among child protective workers. The Children's Agenda is also recommending that the county provide more supports and professional developments to help retain the experienced caseworkers already on staff.
The Monroe County legislature is expected to vote on the proposed 2017 budget on Tuesday, December 13.