Individuals representing various Gloucester County departments and organizations, speaking at the Sept. 1 meeting of the Gloucester Board of Supervisors, gave presentations on community needs during the pandemic.
Public Information and Community Engagement Manager Gloria Williams had asked that the representatives address the board together.
Social Services
Lisa Kersey, Director of the Department of Social Services, said that her department had seen a 66 percent increase in the number of children being placed in foster care. In addition, Child Protective Services saw a 33 percent increase in referrals since the pandemic began, she said, with substance abuse in parents a major factor.Kersey said that her department tracks calls for adult and child services each week. She said that typically it gets about 10 calls a month, but during the pandemic, it has seen that number jump to about 33 calls a month. Many of the calls come from adults and elders who need help with finances and home rep...