HOWARD COUNTY, MARYLAND

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

COMMUNITY SERVICES

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS


DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES & SERVICES

The Department of Community Resources and Services started as the Department of Citizen Services and reorganized under its present name in July 2016 (County Code, sec. 6.202).

Under the Department are seven offices: ADA Coordination; Aging and Independence; Children and Families; Community Partnerships; Consumer Protection; Local Children's Boards; and Veterans and Military Families. The Department also is aided by the Commission for Women.

OFFICE OF ADA COORDINATION
To ensure compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was enacted in 1990, and other disability laws, the Office of ADA Coordination assists the public and County Government on disability-related policies, practices, and procedures.

OFFICE ON AGING & INDEPENDENCE
The Office on Aging and Independence started as the Office on Aging and adopted its present name in July 2016.

The Office is the local area agency designated by Howard 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 to the Office on Aging and Independence 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.

OFFICE OF CHILDREN & FAMILIES
The Office of Children and Families originated as the Office of Children's Services, and adopted its present name in July 2016.

In cooperation with other County agencies and private organizations, the Office develops an annual plan for a coordinated system of health, social and community services for children and youth (County Code sec. 12.1500).

OFFICE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
The Office of Community Partnerships administers the County's human service grants in the Community Service Partnership Program as part of the Continuum of Care homeless services. It manages the MultiService Center in North Laurel, and provides staff support for the Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency (County Code, sec. 12.1900).

OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION
The Office of Consumer Protection formed under the Department of Community Resources and Services in July 2016.

OFFICE OF LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
Under the Office of Local Management Board is the Local Management Board, which in Howard County is known as the Local Children's Board.

OFFICE OF VETERANS & MILITARY FAMILIES
Under the Department of Community Resources and Services, the Office of Veterans and Military Families was created in July 2016.

The Office helps veterans and military families find the resources offered to them by government and the nonprofit and business community.


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).

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

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