Mississippi’s Hancock County has a shortage of qualified social workers and foster parents, according to this article on WLOX Channel 13’s Web site. The station covers Biloxi, Pascagoula and Gulfport.

A record number of children have been placed in the care of the Hancock County Department of Human Services because of the lingering stress on families from Hurricane Katrina and a methamphetamine drug epidemic, the article said.

It has been difficult to find qualified social workers because of low pay, high caseloads and the stress associated with the job, according to Terry Latham, director of Hope Haven Children’s Service. Hope Haven Children’s Services is a nonprofit that supports DHS.

The county needs 15 social workers but has less than half that number. It also has just 10 foster families and needs at least 20 more, the article said.

To learn more about how social workers help families in crisis, visit the National Association of Social Workers’ “Help Starts Here” Kids & Families Web page by clicking here.