AGING & DISABILITY SERVICES DIVISION
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.
The Division is assisted by the Commission on Aging.
Thirteen members constitute the Commission. Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, twelve members serve 2-year terms. One member represents the County Council.
LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN
MARYLAND ACCESS POINT (MAP) CENTER
SENIOR CENTER
ANIMAL SERVICES
Responsibilities of Animal Services include animal adoption and licensing, and the licensing of kennels, catteries, and pet shops. Animal Services hires officers to respond to claims of animal abuse, and dangerous or at-large domesticated animals, and other violations of State and local animal ordinances. Officers also conduct inspections of licensed animal establishments to ensure humane treatment and quality standards (County Code, secs. 142-1 through 142-40, 209-1 through 209-5).
CECIL TRANSIT
Cecil Transit is Cecil County's locally operated public transportation provider. Services included fixed route, demand response, veteran's bus pass program, taxi reimbursement program, and transportation solutions for specialized populations. Fixed route services include three deviated fixed routes connecting the municipalities of Elkton, North East, Perryville, and Newark, DE, with connections to DART and Harford LINK services. The Demand Response program offers origin-to-destination trips within Cecil County, including Senior Center transportation, and limited out-of-county transportation to medical appointments with volunteer drivers. The Transportation Reimbursement Program is available to those who qualify based on age, disability, and income, and allows participants to be reimbursed for transportation expenses associated with taxi services.
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.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS DIVISION
OFFICE OF HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Programs under the Office include: Domestic Violence Counseling, Family Unification, First-Time Home Buyers, Housing Choice Voucher, and Thrive: Family Self-Sufficiency.
Social service and public assistance programs in Cecil 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 Cecil County Social Services Board, the County Executive appoints the Director with County Council consent (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-303; County Charter, sec. 412).
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 consent (Code Family Law Article, secs. 14-401 through 14-404).
CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD FOR CHILDREN
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 Cecil 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
Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Board's nine-members serve three-year terms (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-501 through 3-503).
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The Aging and Disability Services Division is the local area agency designated by Cecil 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).
COMMISSION ON AGING
The Commission on Aging advises the Department of Aging on policy issues and serves as liaison between groups working on behalf of the County’s senior citizens.
Ombudsman staff and volunteers advocate for the rights of nursing-home residents and seniors in assisted-living facilities and continuing-care centers.
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.
Under the Aging and Disability Services Division, the Elkton Senior Center provides fitness programs, classes, entertainment events, computer training, nutritional education, health screenings, and seasonal vaccines.
Animal care and control services were performed by the County until 2000, when the Board of County Commissioners contracted with the Cecil County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Inc., to perform these duties. From January 1, 2013 to June 30, 2016, A Buddy For Life, Inc., had been designated as the animal control agency for the County. On July 1, 2016, Animal Services returned to County control.
Cecil Transit formed as Senior Services and Community Transit, and later reorganized as Cecil Transit.
LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
In Cecil County, the Local Management Board is known as Cecil Partnerships for Children, Youth, and Families. The Board coordinates a system of local services for Cecil 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.
The Office of Housing and Community Development supports affordable housing, economic opportunity, and housing free from discrimination.
HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM
The Housing Choice Voucher Program supports low-income residents by allowing them to select adequate and affordable housing.
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).
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).
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).
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 Cecil County Department of Social Services (Chapter 148, Acts of 1967; Chapter 702, Acts of 1968).
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