Schuylkill County Children & Youth Services gained only two families over the last quarter year, but the agency has been preparing for a larger client base come this time next year.
That is because of numerous changes being made to the state's child abuse and child welfare laws following the Jerry Sandusky scandal. The former defensive assistant coach at Penn State University is serving a 30- to 60-year sentence for the sexual abuse of 10 boys.
"I would expect our numbers to increase," Lisa Stevens, director of the county agency, said Monday. "This time next year, we probably would have felt the changes."
A total of 20 bills signed into law since late 2013 will include changes to the definition of child abuse and reporting practices for educators and doctors. Most of the laws go into effect Dec. 31.
"We expect some significant changes after that," Stevens said. "We have a lot of training to try and get ready."
Stevens submitted the second-quarter report Wednesday at a Schuylkill County commissioners' work session. The report summarizes Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2013.
As of Oct. 1, the agency was serving 1,011 families. During the quarter, the agency processed 481 new families for services while discharging 479, for a net gain of two.
On the last day of the quarter, there were a total of 2,069 children receiving services. Of them, 203 were in placement and 1,866 were receiving in-home services.
Fifty-one children entered placement over the quarter. Five entered placement because of uncontrollable behavior or emotional problems, one due to child abuse, four for inadequate housing, 11 because of delinquency, 11 because of drug and alcohol problems, two because of the mental health problems of the child, one due to the mental health of the parents, one due to the child running away, five due to truancy issues and 10 because of supervision issues.
First half expenditures of $8,061,157 represents 46 percent of the total annual budget.