Westchester County's largest department, Social Services, accounts for one-third of the county's annual budget. What most people don't know is the scope of the department's work.
That's the premise behind an information forum about the department that will take place on Wednesday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Westchester County Center, White Plains. The public is invited to attend.
County Executive Robert P. Astorino, Commissioner of Social Services Kevin McGuire and other senior staff from the Department of Social Services (DSS) will be on hand to talk about the many programs, ranging from child welfare, child support, adult protective services, temporary assistance, food stamps, medical assistance, adoption and more.
"I am committed to maintaining essential services and a safety net for our most needy," said Astorino. "At a time when Washington and Albany are cutting millions of dollars for social services, the county's commitment has remained strong and steady – at about $275 million in both 2011 and 2012."
He added: "There is so much our Department of Social Services does. This forum is an opportunity to tell taxpayers how their money is spent, to tell non-profit agencies what services we have and to let businesses know how to do business with DSS."
Said McGuire, "I am very proud of the breadth and scope of the services we deliver every day."
For 2012, the DSS budget is $566 million, of which about $275 million is funded with county taxpayer dollars. (The remainder comes mainly from federal and state aid.) The department serves more than 180,000 residents and operates district offices in Yonkers, Mount Vernon, White Plains and Peekskill. Last year, DSS was accredited by the International Council on Accreditation through 2015.