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.
The Commission on Aging advocates for the County’s senior citizens and provides programs and services necessary for seniors and those with disabilities to live as independently as possible.
Members are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners to three-year terms.
LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN
MARYLAND ACCESS POINT (MAP) CENTER
SENIOR CENTER
Three main programs are managed by the Authority: Family Self-Sufficiency, Housing Choice Voucher, and Landlord Participation.
The Housing Authority Board of Commissioners governs the Authority.
The Program receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Social service and public assistance programs in Washington 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 Washington County Social Services Board, the Board of County Commissioners appoints the Director (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-303).
The Department is assisted by the Citizen Review Board for Children, 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 Board of County Commissioners (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 Washington 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
The Social Services Board advises the County Department of Social Services on the evolution of local plans to implement federal and State mandated programs, and on the implications of any deficiencies in its local program.
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Board's nine-members serve three-year terms (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-501 through 3-503).
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Long-Term Care Ombudsman staff and volunteers advocate for the rights of nursing-home residents and seniors in assisted-living facilities and continuing-care centers.
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.
The Commission on Aging operates the Senior Activities Center in Hagerstown. For seniors age 55 and over, the Center offers exercise programs, arts and crafts, and educational opportunities, such as computer instruction, health classes, and chess club.
HOUSING AUTHORITY
The Housing Authority provides access to affordable and safe housing to the elderly, families, veterans, and low-income residents.
HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM
Previously known as the Section 8 Program, the Housing Choice Voucher Program provides low-income residents with the ability to choose housing that meets their own individual needs.
LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
In Washington County, the Local Management Board is known as the Community Parnership for Children and Families. The Board coordinates a system of local services for Washington 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.
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).
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 Welfare Board was renamed as the Social Services Board under the Washington County Department of Social Services (Chapter 148, Acts of 1967; Chapter 702, Acts of 1968).
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