Westmoreland County commissioners want to decide how much money some social service programs will receive this year.
They voted 2-1 Thursday to apply for participation in a pilot program in which the state awards a block grant that local officials would then divvy up among seven specific human services programs.
“We want to put money in the hands of the county to see how it is spread around,” Commissioner Charles Anderson said.
Westmoreland was shut out last year when the state picked 20 counties, including Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Greene, for the project.
Another 10 counties will be selected for human service block grants this year.
Westmoreland County is seeking more than $15 million that would be used to pay for community-based mental health services, programs for behavioral health and intellectual disability clients, child welfare, drug and alcohol treatment, homeless assistance and human service development projects.
Dirk Matson, the county's human services director, said those programs service more than 16,000 clients.
Commissioners hired Matson last year after the county was rejected for the first round of the block grant program.
“We believe it is in the best interest of the county to get this grant,” said Commissioner Tyler Courtney.
Commissioner Ted Kopas, the board's lone Democrat, voted against seeking the grant, saying he preferred the county getting specific funding levels for individual programs.
“This is another bad idea from a governor that has been no friend to human services. It sets the stage for future cuts. This is what happens to block grants. And it puts human services against one another,” Kopas said.
Before it makes a formal application for the grant, the county will conduct a public hearing to gather input as to how the human services money should be spent.
The hearing will be held at 3 p.m. on Aug. 29 at the courthouse.
Rich Cholodofsky is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.
