By Jessie Burchette

jburchette@salisburypost.com

Although more people are out of work, more families need day care for their children.

The Rowan County Social Services Department has a waiting list for families wanting assistance paying for day care.

And the state's efforts to take back money have created more difficulties.

The state allocated $4.5 million this budget year for the county to to help qualifying families with day care. The program currently assists 1,100 children, with the monthly cost running $360,000. The amount paid depends on the income of the parent or parents.

In February, the State Division of Child Development notified the county it would have to return $169,000 to the state.

Sandra Wilkes, county Social Services director, said the state has relented after several appeals and returned $60,000.

But Wilkes said the number of families needing day-care assistance is continuing to increase.

"We had thought that more parents would be home with all the job cuts," Wilkes told the Rowan County Board of Commissioners. "That hasn't happened yet."

The department started a waiting list March 20. As of Monday, there were 200 children on the list.

Wilkes said the department is working with families to provide alternatives, including trying to find spots in Smart Start for any children under the age of 5.

Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.