ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

In Calvert County, Community Services involve the Department of Community Resources, the Department of Social Services, and the Local Management Board.

[photo, Community Resources Building, 30 Duke St., Prince Frederick, Maryland]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES

The Department of Community Resources oversees the Office on Aging, the Housing Authority, and the Public Transportation Division. The Department also is aided by the Heritage Committee, the Historic District Commission, the Veterans Affairs Commission, and the Commission for Women.

Community Resources Building, 30 Duke St., Prince Frederick, Maryland, March 2008. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION

The Commission advises the Board of County Commissioners on programs, policies, and initiatives affecting the lives of County veterans. With the community, the Commission works to promote and expand existing veteran support and services in the County. The Commission also will provide assistance, guidance, and information to businesses and other public entities to ensure adequate representation of veterans in employment, education, training, and public programs throughout the County.

Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners to three-year terms, nine members constitute the Commission.

OFFICE ON AGING
The Office on Aging is the local area agency designated by Calvert 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).

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 Office also receives local funds, private donations, and contributions from program participants.

COMMISSION ON AGING

Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Commission's sixteen members serve four-year terms.

LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN
Long-Term Care Ombudsman staff and volunteers advocate for the rights of nursing-home residents and seniors in assisted-living facilities and continuing-care centers.

MARYLAND ACCESS POINT (MAP) CENTER
The Maryland Access Point (MAP) Center provides seniors with information on assisted-living facilities, in-home care, long-term care, Medicare, nursing homes, and rehabilitation facilities.

SENIOR CENTERS
Under the Office on Aging, three Senior Centers offer fitness programs, classes, entertainment events, computer training, nutritional education, health screenings, and seasonal vaccines. These centers are found at Lusby (Southern Pines Senior Center); North Beach; and Prince Frederick (Calvert Pines Senior Center).

[photo, Calvert County Housing Authority, 480 Main St., Prince Frederick, Maryland]

HOUSING AUTHORITY
In 1972, the Housing Authority of Calvert County was established by the Board of County Commissioners.

The Authority is governed by a five-member board of commissioners appointed by the Board of County Commissioners.

Calvert County Housing Authority, 480 Main St., Prince Frederick, Maryland, November 2016. Photo by Diane F. Evartt

Programs offered by the Housing Authority include: Housing Choice Voucher, Maryland Special Loan, Project-Based Voucher, and Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM

PROJECT-BASED VOUCHER PROGRAM
The Project Based Voucher Program manages 72 family houses for low-income families.

VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM
The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program supplies homeless veterans with rental assistance vouchers.

[photo, Calvert County District Court/Multi-Service Center, 200 Duke St., Prince Frederick, Maryland]

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

When the Department of Social Services started as the Department of Public Welfare in 1939, the Welfare Board was the local administrative agency for public assistance (Chapter 99, Acts of 1939). The Department of Public Welfare assumed welfare responsibilities from the Welfare Board in 1967, and was renamed the Department of Social Services in 1968 (Chapter 148, Acts of 1967; Chapter 702, Acts of 1968).

Louis L. Goldstein District Court/Multi-Service Center, 200 Duke St., Prince Frederick, Maryland, November 2018. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Social service and public assistance programs in Calvert County 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 Calvert County Social Services Board, the Board of County Commissioners appoints the Director (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-303).

ADULT PUBLIC GUARDIANSHIP REVIEW BOARD

Chapter 768, Acts of 1977

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 Board of County Commissioners (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 Calvert 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)

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 Calvert County Department of Social Services (Chapter 148, Acts of 1967; Chapter 702, Acts of 1968).

Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, seven members serve three-year terms, and two serve ex officio (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-501 through 3-503).

LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD

In Calvert County, the Local Management Board is known as the Calvert County Family Network. The Board coordinates a system of local services for Calvert 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.

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CALVERT COUNTY, MARYLAND

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