Formed by the Governor in 1982, the State Coor-
dinating Council began as the State Coordinating
Council for Residential Placement of Handicapped
Children (Executive Order 01.01.1982.09). The Gov-
ernor reestablished the Council within the Office for
Handicapped Individuals in 1987 (Executive Order
01.01.1987.10). The Council was transferred to the
Office for Children, Youth, and Families in 1990
(Chapter 419, Acts of 1990). In 1993, the Council
received its present name (Chapter 556, Acts of 1993).
The Council has developed procedures for Local
Coordinating Councils to assure that those children
with disabilities in residential placement receive a
complete plan of care. With the Local Coordinating
Councils, the State Coordinating Council plans,
coordinates, and monitors multiple-agency services
for children with disabilities who may need or are
in residential placement. It also maintains a multi-
ple-agency information system that assures agency
accountability to children with disabilities and en-
ables the State to plan for needed services.
The State Coordinating Council consists of the
Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene; the Sec-
retary of Human Resources; the Secretary of Juve-
nile Services; the State Superintendent of Schools;
and the Special Secretary for Children, Youth, and
Families; or their designees. The Director of the
Office for Individuals with Disabilities serves ex
officio as a nonvoting member (Code 1957, Art.
49D, secs. 13-20).

CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES
REFORM INITIATIVE
Donna Stark, Ph.D., Director
(410) 333-4285

The Children and Family Services Reform Pro-
ject was established by the Governor in June 1988
(Executive Order 01.01.1988.09). Known as the
Children and Family Services Reform Initiative, the
Project seeks to create a model children and family
services system.
Under oversight of the Governor's Subcabinet
for Children, Youth, and Families, the Initiative
coordinates interagency planning and budgeting
for all State programs concerned with the needs of
young children and adolescents who are abused,
neglected, abandoned, emotionally disturbed,
handicapped, or pregnant. Coordination also ex-
tends to programs for young runaways or substance
abusers, as well as those who are dependent, home-
less, habitually truant, ungovernable, or delin-
quent. Additionally, the Initiative coordinates
programs for youth who are at-risk from these
conditions and for their families.
The Initiative reviews State statutes and regula-
tions on children and family services. It makes rec-
ommendations on the use of all available
government and private resources for essential serv-

ices for children and families. In selected areas, the
Initiative also devises and implements new local
service delivery systems. It then assists in extending
those systems throughout the State under the di-
rection of the Subcabinet.

PROJECT ADVISORY CO UNCIL
Chairperson: Nancy S. Grasmick, Ph.D., Special
Secretary for Children, Youth, & Families
(410) 333-4285

Formed by the Governor in 1988, the Project
Advisory Council advises the Governor's Sub-
cabinet for Children, Youth, and Families and the
Department of Human Resources concerning the
Children and Family Services Reform Initiative.

PREVENTION & EARLY INTERVENTION
FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
Carol Ann Baglin, Executive Director

One Market Center
300 W. Lexington St., Box 3
Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 333-8100

Prevention and Early Intervention for Young
Children began in 1991 within the Office for Chil-
dren, Youth, and Families. Under this unit, a com-
prehensive statewide strategy has been devised for
prevention and early intervention services for
young children (from birth to age 5) and their
families. The strategy involves five initiatives: the
State Commission on Infant Mortality Prevention;
the Infants and Toddlers Programs; the Head Start
Collaboration Network; the Office of Child Care
Coordination; and the Family Development Com-
munities Project.

Samuel C. Schwab, Chairperson, 1994
Carol Ann Baglin, Director

311 W. Saratoga St., Room 260
Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 333-8100

The State Commission on Infant Mortality Pre-
vention was created in 1991 (Chapter 413, Acts of
1991). The Commission was overseen by the Gov-
ernor's Council on Adolescent Pregnancy from
1991 to December 1993, when it came under
Prevention and Early Intervention for Young Chil-
dren. The Commission works to reduce infant mor-
tality in Maryland.
For maternal and infant health care, the Com-
mission established a perinatal system by regions in
the State. The Commission formulates policies and
strategies to increase the availability of skilled health
care providers for needy citizens and makes recom-
mendations for a perinatal surveillance and data
collection system.