Allegheny County Department of Human Services

The department’s Office of Children, Youth and Families has about 100 vacant caseworker positions, according to both union estimates and county officials.

The federally-funded multi-year study will involve thousands of families across the country .

The report, from researchers at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, was released last week.

On today’s episode of The Confluence: Allegheny County reported 719 deaths due to a drug overdose in 2021, an increase from the previous year; the state established a database of police personnel records, but an investigation found the tool has created little accountability due to loopholes and a lack of enforcement; and we hear from a paddler and coach with a local dragon boat team. Today’s guests include: Maisha Howze, assistant deputy director for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services Office of Behavioral Health; Danielle Ohl, investigative reporter with Spotlight PA; and Naomi Herman, a member of two local dragon boat teams and Bob Randolph, the Steel City Dragons’ head coach and board chair.

Rental payments can be made into May, but no new applications will be accepted after March 31.

The funds were used for direct cash payments to youth in foster care or who had aged out of foster care.

In a study released this week about the experiences of more than 200 local people who were abruptly displaced from housing four years ago, researchers said the dislocation was a "traumatic experience" — even for those who ultimately ended up in a better living situation.

Allegheny County has paid out more than $13 million in aid as of Wednesday, though it has more than $50 million remaining unspent.

Close to $80 million in federal rental aid will be available to landlords and tenants in Allegheny County starting at 8 a.m. Monday.County officials said…

On today's program: Two researchers from Pittsburgh-based institutions found Black Americans are more likely to live further from a vaccine distribution…