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Commissioners proclaim June as Child Welfare Professionals and Providers Appreciation month; agencies report service loads and staffing gaps
Summary
The board adopted two proclamations recognizing child welfare staff and contracted providers. County Children & Youth Services and partner nonprofits described caseloads, placements and workforce shortages during public remarks.
The Centre County Board of Commissioners on June 3 unanimously adopted two proclamations recognizing June as Child Welfare Professionals Appreciation Week and as Child Welfare Service Providers Appreciation Week.
Leah (representing the county children and youth agency) asked the board to proclaim the weeks to publicly recognize caseworkers, supervisors and contracted providers, and to draw attention to staffing needs. The board approved proclamation 30 (Child Welfare Professionals Appreciation Week) and proclamation 31 (Child Welfare Service Providers Appreciation Week) by voice vote; the clerk recorded “motion carries.”
Why it matters: County caseworkers and partner nonprofits provide protective services, placement and prevention programs for children and families. Speakers described high caseloads, multi‑agency coordination and persistent hiring gaps that affect service delivery.
What speakers said: Leah said the county typically serves more than 2,000 children annually. For fiscal year 2024–25 to date, her office had investigated “over 800 referrals of abuse and neglect,” provided ongoing protective services to 65 families and placement services to 68 children, and was “currently providing ongoing protective services to 65 families and placement services to 68 children.” She said children’s services are staffed “3 months to 49 years” in tenure and emphasized the emotional and operational demands on workers.
Christine Bishop, CEO of the Centre County Youth Service Bureau (YSB), described YSB services and workforce: she said YSB has 66 staff, more than a dozen programs, and that YSB served 461 children and family members intensively in 2024 and reached over 2,000 children through regular outreach and more than 7,000 contacts via outreach efforts. Bishop said YSB currently has four open positions across reunification, parenting and residential services.
Patty Flood, executive director of FIX (Family Intervention Crisis Services), said FIX has 35 staff and five unfilled positions; she said 45% of FIX staff have been employed more than 10 years and about 30% have more than 20 years’ experience. Leah said county contracts include more than 20 non‑placement and 16 placement providers and that the two principal partners are FIX (Wardell and Associates) and YSB.
Board action and next steps: Commissioners thanked the agencies and adopted both proclamations by voice vote. No policy or funding change was enacted at the meeting; speakers and commissioners emphasized recruitment as a priority and noted immediate hiring needs (Leah and agency partners enumerated five and four current openings, respectively).
