Social service and public assistance programs in Anne Arundel County are the responsibility of the Department of Social Services (County Charter, sec. 554; County Code, sec. 2-1-605). 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 Anne Arundel County Social Services Board, the County Executive appoints the Director (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-303; County Charter, sec. 554).
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).
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
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).
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 Anne Arundel 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)
LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
Since 1990, each county in Maryland 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.
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).
In Anne Arundel County, the Local Management Board is known as the Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families. The Board coordinates a system of local services for Anne Arundel 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 Anne Arundel County, the Board consists of at least eleven members. Six to eight members are appointed by the County Executive, and five members serve ex officio. The County Executive names the Chair (County Code, Art. 3, secs. 6-101 through 6-112).
SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD
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 Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services (Chapter 148, Acts of 1967; Chapter 702, Acts of 1968).
Appointed by the County Executive, the Board consists of thirteen members who serve three-year terms. The County Executive serves ex officio (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-501 through 3-503).
![[photo, Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities, Heritage Office Complex, 2666 Riva Road, Annapolis, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/an/images/1198-1-08022b.jpg)
The Department of Aging and Disabilities is the local area agency designated by Anne Arundel County to administer State and federal funds for local senior citizen programs. These programs cover advocacy services, health education, housing, information and referral, in-home services, and nutrition (Code Human Services Article, secs. 10-201 through 10-214; County Code, sec. 2-1-503).
![[photo, Arundel Center, 44 Calvert St., Annapolis, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/an/images/buildings/1198-1-08256c.jpg)