Grants of federal and State funds for local programs to serve the elderly are provided by the federal Older Americans Act (Title III), the federal Food and Agriculture Act (sec. 700), and State general funds. The Department also receives local funds, private donations, and contributions from program participants.
The Department offers 24 programs in multiple locations throughout the County. Among these are Advocacy Services, the Maryland Access Point Customer Service Center, Meal Programs, and Senior Centers.
Serving three-year terms, fifteen members make up the Commission. They are appointed by the County Executive, who also names the Chair (County Code, secs. 3-3-201 through 3-3-205).
LONG-TERM CARE OMBUSDSMAN
MARYLAND ACCESS POINT (MAP) CENTER
SENIOR CENTERS
The Eating Together Meal Program is federally funded for Senior Center members and residents of senior housing units. Senior Center Councils also offer meals for family members and visitors for a minimal fee. Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland provides meals as well.
Senior centers are located in Arbutus; Catonsville; Cockeysville; Dundalk (Ateaze Senior Center& Fleming Senior Center); Edgemere; Essex; Hereford; Lansdowne-Baltimore Highlands; Middle River (Victory Villa); Overlea-Fullerton; Parkville; Perry Hall (Seven Oaks Senior Center); Phoenix (Jacksonville Senior Center); Pikesville; Randallstown (Liberty Senior Center); Reisterstown; Rosedale; Towson (Bykota Senior Center); and Woodlawn.
Social service and public assistance programs in Baltimore County are the responsibility of the Department of Social Services. These include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the food stamp program), and Temporary Cash Assistance, as well as services for adoption, foster care, and child protection. To implement programs and provide support services to children and families in their communities, the Department also works with local organizations to offer education and training, transitional housing, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. The Director of the Department administers these programs subject to the supervision, direction, and control of the Social Services Administration, and the Family Investment Administration.
With the approval of the Secretary of Human Services and the advice of the Baltimore County Social Services Board, the County Executive appoints the Director (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-303; County Charter, sec. 540; County Code, Art. 3, secs. 4-401, 4-402).
On a regular schedule, the Board reviews each guardianship that a public agency holds, and makes recommendations on whether to continue, modify, or end the guardianship.
The Board's eleven members are appointed to three-year terms by the County Executive with County Council approval (Code Family Law Article, secs. 14-401 through 14-404).
CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD FOR CHILDREN
The Citizen Review Board for Children reviews cases of children in foster care to evaluate what progress has been made towards their permanent placement. Cases are reviewed in accordance with priorities established by the Baltimore County Department of Social Services and the State Citizens Review Board for Children and contained in a memorandum of agreement. For each child reviewed, a recommendation is sent to the County Department of Social Services and the local juvenile court. With concurrence of the Social Services Administration, the State Board may establish categories of foster children for whom a satisfactory permanent arrangement has been made and who may be exempt from local review.
Each local review board has seven members. They are appointed by the Governor to four-year terms (Code Family Law Article, secs. 5-540 through 5-547)
SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD
The Board has ten members. Appointed by the County Executive, nine members serve three-year terms. One member serves ex officio (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-501 through 3-503).
Each local management board enters into a community partnership agreement with the Governor's Office for Children, which assists with training and technical assistance so that each local board may develop resources, implement programs, and become fiscally accountable.
Reflecting the interagency nature of services for children and families, each board's membership must include representatives from the local health department, core service (mental health) agency, and department of social services; the local office of the Department of Juvenile Services; and the county public school system. Other members representing public and private community organizations also may serve on a board (Chapter 3, Acts of 2007; Chapter 604, Acts of 2011; Chapter 469, Acts of 2015; Chapter 456, Acts of 2017; Code Human Services Article, secs. 8-301 through 8-305).
The Local Management Board coordinates a system of local services for Baltimore County children, youth, and families (Code Human Services Article, secs. 8-301 through 8-305). Health, education, social and justice services are provided to young people who may be moved from their home because of abuse, neglect, delinquency, or special needs. In the community, the Board coordinates services so that children, placed in programs out-of-state, may be helped closer to home.
In Baltimore County, the Board consists of up to fifteen members. Up to six of these are appointed by the County Executive to four-year terms. Nine members serve ex officio (Baltimore County Executive Order, June 28, 2005).
Through education and outreach, the Commission identifies and advocates for programs, legislation, and services to meet the needs of the women of the County. Current initiatives promote awareness and eradication of human trafficking; monitor and assist victims of domestic violence; and educate and provide resources with which to improve women's health.
Twenty-one members constitute the Commission. Fourteen are appointed by the County Executive, and each County Council member appoints one member. All serve three-year terms.
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COMMISSION ON AGING
In Baltimore County, the Commission on Aging advises the County Department of Aging on policy and serves as a liaison between groups working on behalf of the County's senior citizens.
Ombudsman staff and volunteers advocate for the rights of nursing-home residents and seniors in assisted-living facilities and continuing-care centers.
Under the Department of Aging, the Maryland Access Point (MAP) Center provides seniors with information on assisted-living facilities, in-home care, long-term care, Medicare, nursing homes, and rehabilitation facilities.
Some twenty Senior Centers under the Department of Aging offer classes, computer training, entertainment events, fitness programs, health screenings, meal programs, nutritional education,and seasonal vaccines.
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
When the Department of Social Services started as the Department of Public Welfare in 1939, the Welfare Board was the local administrative agency for public assistance (Chapter 99, Acts of 1939). The Department of Public Welfare assumed welfare responsibilities from the Welfare Board in 1967, and was renamed the Department of Social Services in 1968 (Chapter 148, Acts of 1967; Chapter 702, Acts of 1968).
ADULT PUBLIC GUARDIANSHIP REVIEW BOARD
The Adult Public Guardianship Review Board originated as the Disabled Persons Review Board in 1977 (Chapter 768, Acts of 1977), and reformed under its present name in 1988 (Chapter 295, Acts of 1988).
In 1978, the Citizen Review Board for Children originated as the Foster Care Review Board (Chapter 980, Acts of 1978). The Board reformed under its present name in 1999 (Chapter 355, Acts of 1999).
Until the Great Depression, public assistance and welfare functions of the Social Services Board were administered by the Board of County Commissioners. Under the Board of State Aid and Charities, the Welfare Board assumed those duties in 1933 and became the local agency to direct public relief (Chapter 222, Acts of 1933). The Board also began to certify eligible persons for employment in the federal Works Progress Administration, the Public Works Administration, and the Civilian Conservation Corps (Chapter 586, Acts of 1935). When the State Department of Public Welfare replaced the Board of State Aid and Charities in 1939, the Welfare Board was overseen by the State Department (Chapter 99, Acts of 1939). The Board reformed in 1967 with many of its administrative duties transferred to the County Department of Public Welfare (Chapter 148, Acts of 1967). In 1968, the Board was renamed as the Social Services Board under the Baltimore County Department of Social Services (Chapter 148, Acts of 1967; Chapter 702, Acts of 1968).
LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
Since 1990, each Maryland county has been required to establish a local management board to plan, implement, and monitor child and family services. Each board determines what services are needed within the parameters of the goals of the Children's Cabinet.
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN
Established by the County Council in January 1977, the Commission for Women held its first meeting in June 1977.
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