Beaufort County's Legislative Delegation should bring back an advisory board to assist people in finding out how to get a helping hand from the county's Department of Social Services, the department's director urged last week.

"The board will educate and advocate for the department, and in these days and times that is essential," said Fred Washington Jr., director of the Beaufort County Department of Social Services.

The "days and times" he refers to are seeing state cuts rob vital money from human service agencies that bolster the community's safety net.

"I don't see how (the cuts) can't impact what we do locally," Washington said.

The state's social services department has absorbed more than $30 million in budget cuts the past two years. That's led to a hiring freeze locally. Department officials also are exploring a volunteer furlough program.

"I have to analyze what we can afford," Washington said.

The cuts have forced department officials to do more with less, he said. That makes the advisory board an important tool that can help keep the public informed about services and assistance the department provides.

"Every time someone is without, people automatically think to send them to the Department of Social Services," Washington said. "We need to limit services, but inform the public of exactly what we do and what we can do."

While budget cuts will not touch the county department's three primary programs -- protection, family independence and food stamps -- it could affect how those services make their way into the community.

"Even though we're still providing (a program) we may not be able to provide it at the level and efficiency we have in the past," Washington said. "But if we're cutting back I have to make sure our core services are taken care of."

He said he hopes to have the advisory board, which was last used five years ago, up and running within two months.

Responsibilities of the advisory board could include;

Maintaining a dialogue with the Legislative Delegation and the County Council;

Understanding the department's budget requests and programs; and

Providing advice to the department's director on the expenditures of locally generated funds.

Members of the advisory board are appointed by the governor based on the recommendation of the county's Legislative Delegation.

"I don't particularly have a problem with it," said state Sen. Scott Richardson, R-Hilton Head Island. "É If it's something that (Washington) feels would be useful and there are people who are willing to serve then I don't think there would be anything wrong with it."