Schuylkill County Children & Youth Services is serving more families but has placed fewer children in foster care, according to the department's latest quarterly report.
Agency Director Lisa Stevens submitted the third-quarter report Wednesday at a commissioners' work session. The report summarizes Jan. 1 through March 31.
On Jan. 1, Children & Youth was serving 930 families. Over the quarter, 532 new families were processed for services while 471 were discharged for a net gain of 61 families.
As of March 31, 2,056 children were receiving services. Of these children, 188 were with foster families and 1,868 were receiving in-home services. Forty-six children were placed with foster families over the quarter while 39 were discharged.
The number of children with foster families is significantly less than 246 at the end of the first quarter of last year.
Of the 46 children placed in foster homes, five were because of abuse; seven were because of the child's uncontrollable behavior or emotional problems; 18 were because of delinquency, six were because of the parent's drug and alcohol problems; two were because of the parent's mental problems; two were because of truancy issues; two because of housing issues and three because of parenting issues.
The overall expenditures for the third quarter represents 67 percent of the department's budget at $11,701,730. State funds make up 65 percent of that budget, with federal and county contributions both at 19 percent and the program accounting for 2 percent.
The average daily cost per child in placement was $119.78.
The department began the quarter with $2,520,325 in its account and closed March with $1,392,617.