Today, social service and public assistance programs in Montgomery County are the responsibility of the Department of Health and Human Services. 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 Montgomery County Social Services Board, the County Executive appoints the Director (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-303; County Charter, sec. 554).
The Department of Health and Human Services oversees Aging and Disability Services; Behavioral Health and Crisis Services; Children, Youth and Family Services; Community Affairs; Public Health Services; and Special-Needs Housing.
In promoting a communitywide goal to end homelessness, the Commission will develop a strategic plan to prevent and reduce homelessness, and minimize the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless families and individuals. The Commission also reviews and monitors any program that is a component of the Continuum of Care, 100,000 Homes Campaign, and Housing First Initiative. In addition, the Commission recommends to the County Executive and County Council improvements to the Continuum of Care; and recommends and promotes partnerships with the private sector to improve the County's ability to prevent and reduce homelessness.
Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, members of the Commission serve three-year terms.
AGING & DISABILITY SERVICES
For local programs to serve the elderly, grants of federal and State funds 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.
At multiple locations throughout the County, Aging and Disabilities Services offers a variety of programs for seniors and persons with disabilities. Among these are Advocacy Services, the Maryland Access Point (MAP) Center, Meal Programs, and Senior Centers.
The Commission advises Aging and Disabilities Services on policy, and serves as a liaison between groups working on behalf of the County’s senior citizens.
Eighteen members constitute the Commission. They are appointed to three-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent. The Commission chooses the Chair. (County Code, Chapter 27, Article III, secs. 27-34 through 27-39).
Twenty-five members constitute the Commission. They are appointed to three-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent. (County Code, Chapter 27, Article VI, secs. 27-50 through 27-52A).
LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN
MARYLAND ACCESS POINT (MAP) CENTER
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & CRISIS SERVICES
COMMISSION ON HEALTH
Social service and public assistance programs in Montgomery 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.
The Department of Social Services is aided by the Adult Public Guardianship Review Board, the Citizen Review Board for Children, the Local Management Board, and the Social Services Board.
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 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)
LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD
Appointed by the County Executive, the Board's twelve-members serve three-year terms (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-501 through 3-503; County Charter, sec. 554).
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INTERAGENCY COMMISSION ON HOMELESSNESS
The Interagency Commission on Homelessness was authorized in April 2014 (County Council Bill 34-13).
Within the Department of Health and Human Services, Aging and Disability Services is the local area agency designated by Montgomery County to administer federal and State 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
In 1974, the Commission on Aging was established, fulfilling the requirement of the federal Older Americans Act of 1965 that in local jurisdictions there be advisory councils to area agencies on aging. (42 U.S.C. Sec. 3001 et. seq.; MC Code Article III, Sec. 27-34.)
COMMISSION ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
The Commission on People with Disabilities was created by the County Council in 1978 to advise the County Executive and the County Council on government policies that may affect County residents with disabilities.
Ombudsman staff and volunteers advocate for the rights of nursing-home residents and seniors in assisted-living facilities and continuing-care centers.
Under the Department of Aging and Disability Services, 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.
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 Commission on Health formed in July 1988.
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).
The Local Management Board coordinates a system of local services for Montgomery County children, youth, and families (Code Human Services Article, secs. 8-301 through 8-305; County Code, secs. 2-117 through 2-123). 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.
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 Montgomery County Department of Social Services (Chapter 148, Acts of 1967; Chapter 702, Acts of 1968).
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