A new priority poll in Delaware County shows that county voters support increased local funding for social services, particularly to help children, writes the staff at mychesco.com.

The poll of 606 registered Delaware County voters in March 2021 was created by The Voices for Children Coalition.

Services for children who are abused or neglected received the highest priority from those polled for services (76%).

K-12 education, mental illness, and drug/alcohol abuse were top issues voters wanted local elected officials to address.

Other issues involving local children important to those polled included poverty, nutrition, racial inequality, special education, child care and health care. 

The Voices for Children Coalition wanted a snapshot as Delaware County residents emerge from the pandemic, said Leigh Anne McKelvey, executive director of CASA Youth Advocates of Delaware and Chester Counties.

 “What we found is that there is widespread concern about the effect the pandemic had on children’s well-being and that people want our children to be a priority going forward.”

The poll helps local officials determine where to prioritize an anticipated $10 million the county is to receive from the federal American Recovery Plan, available to help communities recover from the pandemic.

 Read more mychesco.com about a Delaware County poll prioritizing children’s programs.