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
The Family Services Division oversees the Child Advocacy Center, Family Parnership, the Local Management Board, and the Scott Key Center, as well as Housing and Human Relations.
Formerly located at 520 North Market St. in Frederick, the Division moved to 5370 Public Safety Place on November 27, 2013, and then to 401 Sagner Avenue in September 2017.
Former site of Frederick County Citizens Services Division, 520 North Market St., Frederick, Maryland, January 2006. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Commission members advocate on behalf of immigrants for access to County government resources and services, and recommend policies to protect their civil rights. The Commission also supports economic development for immigrant communities.
Seventeen members constitute the Commission. Fourteen are appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent to three-year terms. A student member is appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent to a one-year term. Two nonvoting members represent the County Council, and the City of Frederick Board of Aldermen respectively. The Chair is chosen by the Commission for a one-year term (County Code, Article XV, secs. 1-2-500 through 1-2-507).
VETERANS ADVISORY COUNCIL
Fourteen members constitute the Council. Seven members are appointed to two-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent. Seven nonvoting members serve as advisory members (County Code, Art. XII, secs. 1-2-200 through 1-2-209).
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN
Appointed to three-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent, fifteen members constitute the Commission. Annually, Commission members choose the President and the five-member Executive Committee to serve one-year terms.
HOUSING DIVISION
Today, the Housing Division aims to provide affordable housing to those with disabilities, the elderly, and residents of low to moderate income.
Programs under the Division include: Bell Court Senior Apartments, Homebuyer, Housing Choice Voucher, Housing Rehabilitation, Indoor Plumbing, Lead Hazard Grant and Loan, and Special Targeted Applicant Rehabilitation.
LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
SCOTT KEY CENTER
For persons with developmental disabilities, the Scott Key Center provides day habilitation, vocational services, supported employment, and family individual support services.
Social service and public assistance programs in Frederick 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 Frederick County Social Services Board, the County Executive with County Council consent appoints the Director (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-303).
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 Frederick 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
Fourteen members constitute the Board. Thirteen are appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent to three-year terms. One member representing the County Council serves ex officio (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-501 through 3-503).
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In Frederick County, four Senior Centers offer programs to help seniors maintain wellness and independence. Speakers, workshops, special events, and day trips are scheduled, along with enrichment and social opportunities, and fitness classes. Senior Centers are located at Brunswick, Emmitsburg, Frederick, and Urbana.
FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION
![[photo, Former site of Frederick County Citizen Services Division, 520 North Market St., Frederick, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/fr/images/1198-1-1300b.jpg)
Originally called the Citizen Services Division, the unit changed its name to the Family Services Division on July 1, 2023.
IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS COMMISSION
The Immigrant Affairs Commission was created by the County Council in February 2021.
Formed in 2018, the Veterans Advisory Council coordinates services and programs for the County’s 17,000 military veterans and their families. It collaborates with other county and State veterans’ organizations on developing policies and educational resources.
In Frederick County, the Commission for Women was formed by the Board of County Commissioners in July 1992 (Ordinance no. 92-15-050).
The Housing Division originated as the Department of Housing and Community Development, and reformed under its present name on July 1, 2023.
HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM
The Housing Choice Voucher Program provides support to low-income residents by allowing them to select adequate and affordable housing that meets their individual needs.
In Frederick County, the Local Management Board is known as the Office for Children and Families. The Board coordinates a system of local services for Frederick 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 March 1966, the Scott Key Center began operations as a private center for individuals with disabilities. In 1978, when responsibility for children with disabilities transferred to the Board of Education, the Center became an adult developmental center (P.L. 94-142). Thereafter, the Center's Board of Directors entered into an agreement with the Board of County Commissioners to make the Center a County agency under the Health Department in December 1979. Formerly under the Health Services Division, the Center became part of the Citizens Services Division in 2015.
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).
![[photo, Dept. of Social Services, 100 East All Saints St., Frederick, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/fr/images/1198-1-449.jpg)
The Department of Social Services formerly was in the Governor William Donald Schaefer Government Service Center at 100 East All Saints Street in Frederick. On July 31, 2017, the Department opened its new offices two miles away at 1888 North Market Street, Frederick.
Department of Social Services, former site at Governor William Donald Schaefer Government Service Center, 100 East All Saints St., Frederick, Maryland, July 2003. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
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).
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 Frederick County Department of Social Services (Chapter 148, Acts of 1967; Chapter 702, Acts of 1968).
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