Human services include a wide range of activities, including income support, alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment, services for the developmentally disabled, family counseling, probation services, foster care, services for young people and the elderly, and others. While the provision of human services consumes a significant portion of County government resources, the County has little ability to affect policies regarding those services due to federal and state constraints. Changes in public assistance policies, for example, generally must come from Albany and Washington, even though the County is often required to pay a share of the costs. Supporting the local share of mandated programs is an increasing challenge to a county with the third lowest per capita income in New York State. The network is governed by a layer of rules, regulations, mandates and funding sources which sometimes direct and sometimes constrain the ability of agencies to deliver services.
Coordination is an on-going issue.
The socio-economic characteristics of the county contribute to the high level of demand for human services. Unemployment tends to be high in St. Lawrence County, with rates higher than the state and national averages. Some perceive that the provision of human services is aimed solely at those in poverty. Many programs, however, serve a broad spectrum of people. Alcohol and substance abuse can affect the lives of people of any income level, as can domestic violence, mental health problems, and delinquency.