Buncombe County releases annual human services report

Buncombe County Human Services recently released its annual report, which highlights the county’s efforts to support “a safe and healthy community.”

“Given this current economic crisis, now more than ever, government officials need to lead with a strategy for how to hold individuals and families whole,” writes Mandy Stone, Department of Social Services director.  “And to continue building on a foundational structure of service delivery that is strong and supportive.”

The twenty page document goes on to outline the wide range of human services that county agencies offered throughout the 2009-2010 fiscal year, which ended last July. Here’s a look at some of the facts and figures.

Download the report in its entirety here.

General Health Services:

• 31,011 county residents received food assistance, a 27 percent increase from the year before. The report cites the tough economy for the increase

• Average food-assistance benefit per household: $273.98

• Residents enrolled in the Woman, Infant and Children (WIC) food assistance and nutrition program in an average month: 5,116

• Value of the 112,220 WIC vouchers issued for use at local businesses for the purchase of healthy foods: $3.2 million

• Buncombe County population enrolled in Medicaid: 18 percent

• Families and children covered through Medicaid programs: 27,413

• Benefit to the local economy from Medicaid clients: $453 million

• Pregnant women who received prenatal care: 751

• Women screened for heart disease: 1,194

• Women screened for breast and cervical cancer: 1,570

• Low-income women diagnosed with cancer and treated under BCCCP Medicaid: 51

• Home visits to high-risk pregnant women and Medicaid-assisted newborns: 1,390

• Dental screenings for preschool and elementary children: 5,246

• Residents who were given H1N1 vaccine: 7,693

• Deaths in Buncombe County from the H1N1 influenza: 3

• Total vaccines given to protect against communicable diseases: 36,866

Department of Social Services children’s programs:

• Children who entered protective custody: 352

• Average number of children in custody per month: 248

• Average number of licensed foster homes: 98

• Number of adoptions finalized: 37

• Average number of children on the waiting list for Child Care Subsidy services: 204

• Average length of time on the child care waiting list: 5.5 months

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About Jake Frankel
Jake Frankel is an award-winning journalist who enjoys covering a wide range of topics, from politics and government to business, education and entertainment.

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