Pleas for help stresses agencies

As the economy slumps, more Wood County residents are signing up for food stamps to feed their families. More cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation are being investigated. More people are turning for help with paying their utilities. And more are asking for help finding a job.

In the past year, the number of people receiving food stamps in the county has jumped nearly 30 percent, according to the Wood County Department of Job and Family Services . In January alone, food stamp recipients in the county numbered 6,521

The increased demand is not only taking it toll on the recipients, but also on the Job and Family Services staff trying to meet the deepening needs, according to Paulette Stephens, director of the agency. So far, the staff is continuing to try to respond to new requests within five days.

But food stamps is not the only increased demand at the agency. According to statistics presented recently to the Wood County Commissioners, the agency served 33,330 county residents in one way or another last year - that's 26.6 percent of the county's population.

Increased needs were also seen in requests for gasoline and utility assistance, job assistance, plus children's and adult protective services. The number of adult abuse, neglect or exploitation cases increased 35 percent last year. And with 737 cases of child abuse or neglect investigated last year, the staff is concerned that those numbers may soon escalate. Other counties in Ohio have found that child abuse cases tend to peak about six months after the economy bottoms out.

"So we're not out of the woods yet," said Dave Wigent, assistant director at the agency.

The staff reported the following statistics to the county commissioners for last year:

• 905 individuals served through Ohio Works First.
• 9,710 individuals helped with food stamps.
• 22,715 served through Medicaid.
• 463 helped with child care.
• 2,473 helped with items such as gas and utilities.
• 167 served through Adult Protective Services.
• 2,641 helped through workforce development.
• 2,605 children served through Child Protective Services.

At the same time as these increased demands on services, the Wood County Department of Job and Family Services is trying to do more with less - less state funding and less staff. But Stephens said the office would continue plodding along.

"Fiscally we're fine, we're going to make it through this year," she said.

State officials reported recently that Ohio's growing number of food stamp recipients will receive more benefits starting this month, courtesy of the federal economic stimulus bill. The roughly 14 percent increase is worth around $25 extra per month for the average person on food stamps.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says some 12 percent of Ohioans, or 1.3 million residents, now receive food stamps. The department's most recent statistics show Ohio's food stamp rolls during February were up 16 percent from the year before.

Executive director Lisa Hamler-Fugitt with the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks says the additional benefits will help Ohioans put food on their tables and also boost the state's economy during a deep recession.

( The Sentinel-Tribune is a FOXToledo.com media partner)