The Caldwell County Department of Social Services Board received year-to-date reports concerning department activities during its meeting Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Lenoir.

According to the data, the number of children reported during family assessments by Child Protective Services has increased 10 percent from last year’s levels. Through September, 623 family assessments have been conducted, involving nearly 1,300 children.

The nature of the cases increasingly are dire, according to Children’s Program Services Administrator Wendy Pyle.

“With these cases, they are more severe than they’ve ever been,” Pyle said.

Pyle added that cases often involve substance abuse by the parent, and she noted the economy also could be having an effect.

Board member Ron Roukema agreed to an extent but said, “I think we can blame the economy for a lot of things, but I don’t think we can blame all of it.”

Roukema also had additional long-term concerns.

“It becomes a cycle,” he said. “I don’t know how you break the cycle.”

Pyle agreed and said, “We are seeing some generational cases.”

Elsewhere, demand for the Food and Nutrition program – still commonly referred to as food stamps – continues to set all-time highs. In October, 14,162 individuals were receiving benefits from the federal program, totaling $1.78 million.

Also at record levels is the federal Medicaid program that now has more than 1 in 5 Caldwell County residents enrolled. More than 11,000 children are in the program, along with nearly 5,000 adults.

Meanwhile, Caldwell County DSS reported receipt of three grants, including $21,000 for the Smokey Mountain Center to provide services for non-Medicaid clients, $12,000 for the Adolescent Parenting program and $45,000 from North Carolina Heath Net.