SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Kenneth H Rumsey, Interim State Director
of Social Services
Joyce T Mitchell, Deputy Director

311 West Saratoga St
Baltimore, MD 21201—3521 (410) 767 7216

The Social Services Administration began as the
Board of State Aid and Chanties m 1900 (Chapter
679, Acts of 1900) In 1939, the Board was replaced
by the State Department of Public Welfare (Chapter
99, Acts of 1939) The Department was renamed the
State Department of Social Services in 1968 (Chapter
702, Acts of 1968) In 1970, it became the Social
Services Administration (Chapter 96, Acts of 1970)
The Social Services Administration coordinates
and directs all social services in the State (Code 1957,
Art 41, sec 6 106) These mclude adoption, foster
care, protective services to children and families, and
services to families with children It also determines
wlial facluis uJUlnbutc tu social and family pioblcms
and recommends ways to address those problems
The Administration supervises all public and
private institutions that have the care, custody, or
control of dependent, abandoned or neglected chil-
dren, except those placed under supervision of
another agency It licenses agencies and institutions
having the care and custody of minors
The State Director of Social Services is appointed
by the Secretary of Human Resources with the Gov
ernor's approval (Code 1957, Art 88A, sec 2)
In Baltimore City and each county, the director
of the local department of social services adminis
ters programs subject to the supervision, direction,
and control of the Social Services Administration
Each county department of social services has a
nine member board of social services Board mem
bers are appointed to three year terms by the local
governing authority One member serves ex officio
In Baltimore City, the board is called the social
services commission The Mayor appoints its mem
bers to six year terms and two serve ex officio
(Code 1957, Art 88A, sees 1, 2, 4, 14, 14A)
The Social Services Administration is organized
into six offices Child Placement Resources, Execu
tive Management and Support Services, Family and
Children's Services, Federal Funding Initiatives,
Planning and Projects Management, and Program
Review and Monitoring

OFFICE OF CHILD PLACEMENT RESOURCES
Jean E Clarren, Director
(410) 767 7676

Fnnc-t-iorK nftrif- Office of Child-Placement Re
sources started m 1927 when the Board of State
Aid and Charities began to license institutions,
associations, agencies and individuals having the

care, custody, and control of children (Chapter
632, Acts of 1927) By 1954, the Bureau of Child
Welfare was part of the State Department of Public
Welfare (Chapter 519, Acts of 1953) In 1965, the
Bureau was reorganized as the Bureau of Family
and Child Welfare Services (Chapter 817, Acts of
1965) The Bureau, by 1980, functioned as the
Office of Child Welfare Services under the Social
Services Administration The Office received its
present name in 1991
The Office finds and approves residences for
children who are in crisis or who have been re
moved from their parents' home

OFFICE OF EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
& SUPPORT SERVICES
Nancy D Monseaux, Acting Director
(410) 767 7095

In 1980, the Office of Executive Management
and Support Services formed as the Office of Ad
mimstrative Support Services It received its present
name in 1991 To support the operation of Depart
ment programs, the Office provides essential serv
ices, including contracts and procurements,
training, forms management, and budgeting

OFFICE OF FAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICES
M Fern Blake, Acting Director
(410) 767 7026

The Office of Family and Children's Services
originated as the Office of Family and Child Devel
opment Services in 1980 and was reorganized un
der its present name in 1991
The Office sets policy and standards for four
programs Adoptions, Child Protective Services,
Family Services, and Foster Care The Office also
is responsible for Maryland's part in the Interstate
Compact on the Placement of Children, the Mary
land Adoption Resource Exchange, and the Mu
tual Consent Voluntary Adoption Registry

ADOPTIONS
Casandra E Fallin, Manager
(410) 767 7423

MARYLAND ADOPTION RESOURCE EXCHANGE

Sharon A Hackett, Administrator
(410) 767-7372

The Maryland Adoption Resource Exchange
was formed during the 1960s to register and match
children with adoptive families

MUTUAL CONSENT VOLUNTARY
ADOPTION REGISTRY

Sharon A Hackett, Administrator
(410) 767 7372

The Mutual Consent Voluntary Adoption Reg
istry was formed in 1986 The Registry registers