Also, under the Department are the Local Management Board, and the Child Care Center.
The Local Management Board, in Charles County, is known as the Advocacy Council for Children, Youth, and Families. The Board coordinates a system of local services for Charles 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.
COMMISSION FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS
The Commission works to ensure that the community is aware of veterans rights and needs, preserve the honor of veterans, and help veterans transition to civilian life.
Thirteen members constitute the Commission. They are appointed to three-year terms by the Board of County Commissioners The Commission chooses the Chair (County Commissioner Resolution no. 2018-02).
In May 2018, the Board of County Commissioners established the Commission for Veterans Affairs.
AGING & HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION
The Division is the local area agency designated by Charles 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 Department also receives local funds, private donations, and contributions from program participants.
SENIOR CENTERS
HOUSING AUTHORITY DIVISION
Social service and public assistance programs in Charles 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 of the Department of Human Services.
With the approval of the Secretary of Human Services and the advice of the Charles County Social Services Board, the Board of County Commissioners appoints the Director (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-303).
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 four-year terms by the Board of County Commissioners (Chapter 674, Acts of 2024; 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 Charles 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 Board of County Commissioners, the Board's nine-members serve four-year terms (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-501 through 3-503).
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Functions of the Aging and Senior Programs Division were first assigned to Upper Shore Aging, then transferred to the Aging and Community Centers Division of the Department of Community Services. Later, the Division was renamed the Aging and Senior Programs Division, and still later the Aging and Human Services Division.
AREA COUNCIL ON AGING
Appointed by the County Commissioners, the Area Council on Aging assists the Aging and Human Services Division.
MARYLAND ACCESS POINT (MAP) CENTER
The Maryland Access Point (MAP) Center provides seniors with information on assisted-living facilities, in-home care, and long-term care, Medicare, nursing homes, and rehabilitation facilities.
Under the Aging and Senior Programs Division are Senior Centers at Indian Head; LaPlata (Richard R. Clark Senior Center); Nanjemoy; Waldorf (Waldorf Senior & Recreational Center). These four centers provide fitness programs, classes, entertainment events, computer training, nutritional education, health screenings, and seasonal vaccines.
The Housing Authority Division assists low- and moderate-income families with several housing programs. These include Community Development Block Grants, Community Legagy, First-Time Home Buyers Settlement Expense Loan, Home Ability, Homeless Services, Home Ownership Initiatives, Housing Choice Voucher, Rural Housing and Indoor Plumbing, and Special Loan.
HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM
Under the Housing Choice Voucher Program, low-income residents can select affordable housing that suits their individual needs.
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 was created in 1984 (Chapter 552, Acts of 1984).
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 Charles County Department of Social Services (Chapter 148, Acts of 1967; Chapter 702, Acts of 1968).
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