The Social Services Administration is responsi-
ble for the development and coordination of its
services, for determining the factors that seem to
contribute to social and economic problems, and
for recommending changes or new programs to
meet some of the problems. In carrying out this
responsibility, the Social Services Administration
calls upon the local social services departments
for leadership within their communities and for
participation in statewide activities.

The Social Services Administration supervises
all public and private institutions that have the
care, custody, or control of dependent, aban-
doned, or neglected children, except those placed
under the supervision of another agency. It is au-
thorized to establish a central registry of records
for the purpose of locating absent parents of chil-
dren who are likely, or liable to be, recipients of
public assistance or foster care. The Social
Services Administration administers the child care
laws, which regulate placement in Maryland. It
licenses agencies and institutions having the care
and custody of minors, including agencies giving
day care services to children. The Social Services
Administration maintains a central registry of re-
ported child abuse cases (Code 1957, Art. 88A,
sees. 3, 5A, 13, 17, 19-32A, 46; Art. 16, sees.
67-88; Art. 27, sec. IIA).

The Social Services Administration has responsi-
bility for child support activities for families receiv-
ing public assistance. All recipients of Aid to Fam-
ilies with Dependent Children must assign to the
State all rights to support. The Social Services Ad-
ministration, through local departments of social
services, uses local. State, and federal locator
services to find absent parents owing such support,
and court orders are then established requiring
payment to the State. Monies collected through
this program are used to reimburse the State and
the federal government for assistance costs.

The Social Services Administration also serves
as the public agency through which child support
payments are channeled. Prior to January I,
1979, such payments were handled by the Divi-
sion of Parole and Probation of the Department
of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

Each year before the General Assembly convenes,
the State Administration furnishes the Secretary of
Human Resources and the Governor with a report
of its activities (Code 1957, Art. 88A, sec. 3(g)).

SOCIAL SERVICES STATE AND
LOCAL OFFICES

State Administrative Office:

11 South Street
Baltimore 21202

Allegany County

218 Paca Street
Cumberland 21502

Anne Arundel County

Anindel Center
44 Calvert Street
Annapolis 21404

342 South Governor
Ritchie Highway
Glen Burnie 21061

Baltimore City

1510 Guilford Avenue
Baltimore 21202

Baltimore County

Investment Building
620 York Road
Towson 21204

Calvert County

Calvert Executive Plaza
Prince Frederick 20678

Caroline County

Law Building
Denton 21629

CarroU County

95 Carroll Street
Westminster 21157

Cecil County

216 East Pulaski Highway
Elkton 21921

Charles County

8 Kent Avenue
LaPlata 20646

Dorchester County

774 Cambridge Plaza
Route 50
Cambridge 21613