OCEAN TOWNSHIP, NJ – The Monmouth County Division of Social Services (DSS) office at 2405 Route 66 will have a variety of case workers available to meet with clients until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday beginning Sept. 15.

“We have seen a jump in the number of clients looking for services at the Ocean Township Office,” said Freeholder John P. Curley, liaison to the County’s Department of Human Services. “Reassigning staff to the Ocean Township location will improve customer service for clients seeking assistance with finance, food, housing, medical and other social services.”

The office hours for the DSS office in Ocean Township are:

• Monday – 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Tuesday – 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday – 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Thursday – 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Friday – 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

During the evening hours, the Ocean Township facility has been averaging more than 150 clients during the first six months of 2015. Simultaneously, the Freehold location has experienced a decline in evening requests; with a six month average of 45 clients.

Staff from the County’s main DSS office in Freehold, who previously worked the evening hours there, will be reassigned to improve the efficiency of the Ocean Township location.

The DSS evening hours at the Freehold location at 3000 Kozloski Road will be discontinued effective the week of Sept. 14. The new DSS Freehold office hours will be Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“This shift of staff will better serve the clients we are now seeing at the Ocean Township location,” said Curley. “As the needs of Monmouth County’s residents change, we are adapting our facilities and process to provide services in a timely fashion.”

Services provided by the Division of Social Services staff include Case Management Services for families and adults without children who are in need of assistance with finance, food, housing, etc.; Information and Referral Services where social workers assist families and adults by providing information to enable them to locate resources; Program Application Assistance in which case workers will assist clients with applications for Medicaid, TANF, General Assistance and SNAP; Programs to

NJ EASE with services to people age 60 and over; and more.

More than 140,000 Monmouth County residents receive one or more services from the Department each year.

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders established the Monmouth County Department of Human Services in 1987. It reflects a long standing commitment by the Board of Chosen Freeholders to address the needs of our most vulnerable citizens and those of us who may be struggling with an unexpected event and don't know where to turn.

For more information about the Monmouth County Division of Social Services, call 732-431-6000 or visit the Monmouth County Human Services Building at 3000 Kozloski Rd. in Freehold or 2405 State Highway 66, near the Applebees, in Ocean Township.

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