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.
Known as the Family League of Baltimore City, the Local Management Board coordinates a system of local services for Baltimore City children, youth, and families (Code Human Services Article, secs. 8-301 through 8-305).
Health, education, social and justice services are provided by the Board 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.
Fifteen members constitute the Board. Eight members are appointed by the Mayor to four-year terms. Seven members serve ex officio.
Social service and public assistance programs in Baltimore City 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 City Social Services Commission, the Mayor appoints the Director (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-303; City Charter, Art. VII, secs. 57-58).
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 Mayor with City 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 Baltimore City 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 COMMISSION
Until the Great Depression, public assistance and welfare functions of the Social Services Commission were administered by the City Council. 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 Commission under the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (Chapter 148, Acts of 1967; Chapter 702, Acts of 1968).
The Commission consists of thirteen members. Ten of these are appointed by the Mayor with City Council consent. Their terms continue until the end of the Mayor’s term of office. Three members serve ex officio. The Mayor names the President of the Commission (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-502, 3-503; City Charter, Art. VII, sec. 58; City Code, Art. I, secs. 32-1 through 32-5).
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