County sites set up after SRS office closes
Local access points have been set up to assist Marion County residents in need of SRS services when the Marion County office closes Aug. 31.
Currently residents contact the office at 906 E. Main in Marion for their needs. On Sept. 1, SRS services will no longer be offered at the Main Street office due to an effort to reduce overhead and personnel costs.
South Central SRS Regional Director Cyrilla Petracek said her staff has worked with community partners to set up access points to maintain an SRS presence and assist people in receiving information and SRS services.
Some partners have agreed to display brochures and applications, provide a meeting room or interview space, serve as a notary, provide faxing and photocopying services for a nominal charge, offer access to a telephone, computer, and Internet, and provide personal assistance.
Not all services are available at all access sites.
"I know it is hard for a community to lose its SRS office," Petracek said. "However, we believe we can better use the limited resources we do have to provide actual services to those in need."
Petracek said "relaxed federal rules" requiring face-to-face interviews and changes in the child welfare system have reduced the need for customers to visit the SRS office as often.
A toll-free telephone number is available for people needing to reach SRS. The call will be routed to a regional SRS Service Center, based on the location of the caller.
All Marion County calls will be routed to the Newton Regional Service Center.
The toll-free number is (888) 369-4777.
The Marion County office employed five people and was open five days a week. Those staff members have transferred to the Newton service center.
The Newton office is located at 411 Washington Road.
Staff will continue to meet with consumers for a few months from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays at Marion Senior Center, 309 S. Third Street.
Marion County SRS access sites and services are:
Burns: Burns Post Office, 111 N. Washington, posters and brochures.
Durham: Durham Post Office, 508 Douglas Avenue, posters and brochures.
Florence: Florence Post Office, 302 Main, posters and brochures.
Goessel: Goessel Post Office, 207 E. Main, posters and brochures.
Hillsboro: Marion County Learning Center, 107 S. Main, SRS applications and brochures, fax and photocopy services, computer and Internet access, and interview and meeting room space.
Hillsboro Post Office, 201 N. Main, brochures.
Lehigh: Lehigh Post Office, 112 S. Main, display posters and brochures.
Lincolnville: Lincolnville Post Office, 400 W. Main, posters and brochures.
Lost Springs: Lost Springs Post Office, 125 Berry Street, posters and brochures.
Marion: Mid-Cap, 104 N. Fifth Street, SRS applications, brochures, and posters.
Marion County Department for the Elderly, 309 S. Third Street, SRS applications, brochures and posters, photocopy services, interview space, and transportation.
Peabody: Peabody City Office, 300 N. Walnut, SRS applications and brochures, notary services, and telephone access.
Ramona: Ramona Post Office, 213 N. D Street, posters and brochures.
Tampa: Tampa State Bank, 326 Main, posters and brochures.
