Surge in child abuse cases strains county resources

Surge in child abuse cases strains county resources

* The county Department of Social Services continues to deal with an increase in child abuse complaints. Social Services Commissioner Sheila Weaver said complaints rose in May and June, and the department is down three caseworkers. One is on long-term medical leave, while two resigned. One of the people who resigned has been replaced, but Weaver said eight to 12 weeks of training means the second won’t be able to begin taking cases until late fall or early winter. State standards for child protective caseworkers are that they should have case loads of 12 cases, but Warren County’s caseworkers average 20 to 25 cases, she said. Caseworkers from other parts of the agency are pitching in to help, but overtime costs tripled in recent weeks. “There is only so much overtime a person is going to take before they burn out,” said Warrensburg Supervisor Kevin Geraghty, the county’s budget officer.