Caseworkers trying to root out child abuse in Jefferson County will soon have a new tool at their disposal: iPads.

The Board of Legislators’ Health and Human Services Committee recommended spending $8,400 in state grant money to purchase the tablets and data plans to make them run Tuesday night. The new technology will help the Department of Social Services be more efficient, county officials said.

The purchase represents “using technology to save man hours,” said Laura C. Cerow, social services commissioner.

Child Protective Services employees will be able to access a stream of government data from anywhere in the field, including schools, homes and courtrooms, Ms. Cerow said. They will be able to access email, a global address book and other information, and will be able to submit notes from the field without going back to the office.

The iPad is a popular tablet computer, touted by its manufacturer, Apple, as “a magical window where nothing comes between you and what you love.”

Several months ago, the state gave the county five iPads for use by its foster care staff. The new purchase will mean eight more for the CPS staff.

The measure goes to the full board for action Tuesday. The state grant amounted to $21,440, an annual pot of money that usually is put toward overtime for employees. This year, $13,040 of that money, which is what will be left over after the iPad purchase, will go toward overtime.

Also Tuesday, new Legislator Michael A. Montigelli, R-Black River, was assigned to serve on the Finance and Rules and Health and Human Services committees. Legislators appointed him to replace Steven T. Harter, a LeRay Republican who resigned because he moved out of his district.

Thousands of readers like you have made Northern New York Newspapers the number one ranked website* for local news and sports coverage in the north country.

You can continue on to this article in a few seconds, or you can visit one of our websites:

• Watertown Daily Times
• The Ogdensburg Journal
• Daily Courier-Observer