Commissioners Approve Human Services Block Grant Plan

The Franklin County Commissioners recently approved the 2019-2020 Human Services Block Grant plan. The Human Services Block Grant was established by the state of Pennsylvania in 2012 as a pilot program with 20 participating counties. Franklin County was an original participant and is currently one of 30 participating counties.

"The Human Services Block Grant allows us to use funds to target local issues in a thoughtful manner through the guidance of community members, local agencies, and county departments," said Commissioner Chairman Dave Keller.

Since program inception, Franklin County has been able to reinvest $923,971 into various projects and services including start-up costs for the Children’s Advocacy Center, the Summer Work Program and Pathways program with Intellectual Disabilities, Supported Living with Mental Health, as well as outreach including Human Services brochures, and marketing of Drug and Alcohol services to pregnant women in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. It is projected that Franklin County will reinvest $158,999 of 2018-2019 funds, for a grand total of $1,082,970 reinvested over the past 7 years.

"To be able to offer Human Services Block Grant funds back into our community is a priority. We are able to do this because of excellent management by our committee," said Commissioner Bob Thomas.

The Block Grant Planning Committee includes a diverse group of community members, each advocating for a specific group of our community including Aging, Mental Health, Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities, Early Intervention, Health Planning, Employment/ Training/ Education, and Faith. Included in this committee are also members representing many county departments and collaborators including Human Services, MH/IDD/EI, Grants, Fiscal, Children and Youth, Drug and Alcohol, Veterans Affairs, Tuscarora Managed Care, and Fulton County.

"This committee isn't successful because we all agree--it's because we come together and are able to view issues with a 360 degree perspective," said County Administrator Carrie Gray.

The Human Service Block Grant has provided services that have helped over 11,000 individuals in Franklin County since 2012. It is projected the services provided by the Block Grant in 2019-2020 will bring this amount to over 15,000 individuals served.

For more information on the Franklin County Human Services Block Grant, please visit http://bit.ly/2T03Km5.

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