2 Grants Total $331,609; Funds to be used for CPS Enhancement, SNAP Upgrades

ERIE COUNTY, NY— The Erie County Department of Social Services has announced that it has received two grants totaling $331,609 that will be used to improve its services. The Department was awarded $290,000 in Child Protective Services (“CPS”) Enhancement Funds from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and $41,609 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) Process and Technology Improvement Grant funds from the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”).

CPS Enhancement Funds are designed to reduce Child Protective Services’ staff-to-client ratios and will be used to offset the costs of the new CPS positions added earlier this year. The Department added three new child protection teams, each with six front-line workers and a supervisor, a move expected to reduce caseloads to 15 cases per worker.

SNAP Process and Technology Improvement Grants are designed to improve the quality and efficiency of operations and processes within SNAP offices. Funds from the SNAP Process and Technology Improvement Grant will be used to buy equipment for a SNAP call center and for call center staff training. The SNAP call center will enable the department to respond immediately to customer inquiries and provide increased customer service.

“The Department of Social Services aggressively pursues funding opportunities that reduce the local tax burden and improve services to Erie County residents,” said Social Services Commissioner Carol Dankert-Maurer. “Working with our partners at the state and federal level, we were able to receive funding which will augment our CPS and SNAP units.”

For more information:

On the Erie County Department of Social Services, visit http://www2.erie.gov/socialservices/