ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS
![[photo, Frederick County Health Department, 350 Montevue Lane, Frederick, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/fr/images/1198-1-1468b.jpg)
In 1880, the General Assembly authorized the State Board of Health to organize local boards of health or advisory committees in every city, village, and legislative district (Chapter 438, Acts of 1880). Not until 1886, however, were County responsibilities assigned. In that year, the Board of County Commissioners was designated as the Frederick County Board of Health (Chapter 22, Acts of 1886). In 1914, it was placed under control of the State Department of Health, which had organized in 1910 (Chapter 560, Acts of 1910; Chapter 742, Acts of 1914). Later, under provisions of the "County Health Law" of 1922, County health duties increased, opening the way for a full-time health officer in each county (Chapter 116, Acts of 1922).
Frederick County Health Department, 350 Montevue Lane, Frederick, Maryland, August 2006. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
The Health Services Division began as the Health Department. Today, under direction of the Health Officer, the Division provides public health services and administers and enforces State and local health laws and regulations within Frederick County. Programs meet the public health needs of the community and provide services not offered by the private sector (Code Health-General Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-202).
Appointed by the Secretary of Health, the Health Officer is the executive officer and secretary of the County Board of Health (Code Health-General Article, secs. 3-301 through 3-310).
Under the Health Services Division are six main units: Community Health Services, Developmental Disabilities, Environmental Health, Health Care Connection and Preparedness, Mental Health Core Service Agency, and School Health Services. The Division is aided by the Board of Health, the Child Fatality Review Team, the Containment Laboratory Community Advisory Committee, the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council, and the Mental Health Advisory Committee.
BOARD OF HEALTH
In Frederick County, the Board of County Commissioners was constituted as the Board of Health in 1886 (Chapter 22, Acts of 1886). With the adoption of Charter government in 2014, the County Council, de facto, became the Board of Health.
Each year, the Board meets in May and October, and at any other time the Board deems necessary (Code Health-General Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-202).
CHILD FATALITY REVIEW TEAM
The Child Fatality Review Team seeks to develop an understanding of the causes and incidence of child death in Frederick County. The Team develops plans for and recommends changes within the agencies represented on the Team to prevent child deaths; and promotes compensation and coordination among agencies involved in investigations of child deaths, or in providing services to surviving family members. The Team also advises the State Child Fatality Review Team on changes to law, policy, or practice to prevent child deaths (Chapters 355 & 356, Acts of 1999; Code Health-General Article, secs. 5-705 through 5-709).
CONTAINMENT LABORATORY COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
As a joint committee of Frederick County and the City of Frederick, the Containment Laboratory Community Advisory Committee was established in November 2010.
The Committee fosters and facilitates communication between the Frederick County community and the operators of the high-containment laboratories operating at Fort Detrick and elsewhere in Frederick County. The Committee also seeks information about public concerns and way to address them. Further, on behalf of the public, the Committee makes recommendations to government, the containment laboratory, and Fort Detrick officials on ways to improve any laboratory-related operations that may affect public safety and health.
Meeting quarterly, the Committee consists of seven members appointed jointly to three-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent, and the City of Frederick. In addition, one elected official representing Frederick County Government, and one elected official representing City of Frederick Government serve as nonvoting members.
DRUG & ALCOHOL ABUSE COUNCIL
In 2004, a drug and alcohol abuse council was authorized in each county by the General Assembly (Chapters 237 & 238, Acts of 2004; Code Health-General Article, sec. 8-1001).
The Council develops, submits to the Governor, and implements plans and strategies with which to evaluate, prevent, and treat alcohol and drug abuse in Frederick County.
MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Mental Health Advisory Committee monitors, reviews, and evaluates the allocation and adequacy of publicly funded mental health services within Frederick County. The Committee determines the needs of the County mental health system; helps develop the local mental health plan and budget; and prepares an annual report (Code Health-General Article, secs. 10-308 through 10-312).
HEALTH CARE CONNECTION & PREPAREDNESS
Health Care Connection and Preparedness started as Health Care Connection, and adopted its present name in January 2017.
MENTAL HEALTH CORE SERVICE AGENCY
Under authority of the Secretary of Health, a core service agency is designated by each county government to plan, manage, and monitor the delivery of publicly funded mental health services in the county (Code Health-General Article, secs. 10-1201 through 10-1203).
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