Beef Up Your Social Services: Advisory Board to Frederick

An advisory board is telling state lawmakers that Frederick County is the most understaffed jurisdiction in Maryland when it comes to social services.

Board member Heather Haynos testified Saturday that the county's Department of Social Services is operating with a 20 percent vacancy rate and county case managers average 1,000 cases a month.

Haynos and others are asking lawmakers to exercise more oversight of the state Department of Human Resources, which implements social services. That includes food, medical and cash assistance for the needy.

Human Resources Secretary Brenda Donald says the agency is doing everything it can to meet rising demand. She says demand for food stamps is up 44 percent.

Donald says Frederick County is free to fill its staff vacancies.