The Shadow
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) – The Alleghany-Covington Department of Social Services Board reviewed staffing, ongoing building work and caseload numbers during its September 28 meeting.
The agency currently has 38 employees and is moving forward with hiring for three open positions. Applications have been received for two BPS I/II positions and one BPS IV position, with screening underway and interviews expected to begin soon.
Asbestos abatement work is currently underway at the DSS office, requiring the first floor to be completely cleared. Several employees continue to work from home during the project.
The office was closed to the public September 22 and 23 because of the abatement work. During that time, Bath County and Botetourt County assisted with EBT issuance.
Beginning September 24, two DSS employees began distributing EBT cards to the public from Clifton Academy. The temporary location is expected to be used for approximately two weeks, with distribution hours set for 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Renovation work is expected to begin immediately after the asbestos abatement is completed. County staff have assisted with preparation and coordination of the project, according to the director’s report.
The board also reviewed August caseload statistics.
The agency reported 1,208 SNAP cases in Alleghany County and 617 in Covington. Medicaid accounted for 2,544 cases in the county and 1,245 in the city. Cooling/Fuel assistance had 39 county cases and 16 city cases.
On the services side, the agency reported 53 Adult Services cases in Alleghany County and six in Covington, along with 26 Child Protective Services cases in the county and 13 in the city.
As of September 28, there were 40 children in placement in Alleghany County and 28 in Covington. Seven new children entered care since the board’s August 27 meeting. The agency also reported 13 subsidized adoption cases in the county and three in Covington.
The August statistics showed a combined total of 5,893 cases across the agency’s eligibility and services caseloads.
The board’s September meeting also provided an update on the agency’s foster care caseload. As of August 26, DSS had 68 active foster care cases, including 48 in Alleghany County and 20 in Covington. Four children were in the process of being adopted.
