State and local government agencies and organizations are helped by the Governor's Office for Children to assist young people effectively and economically. To provide care through early intervention, prevention, and community services, priority is given to children and families most vulnerable to abuse, neglect, substance abuse, failure at school, family disintegration, and other problems. In meeting such needs, advice on local resources and priorities comes to the Office from child advocacy groups and parents. The Office also informs families and the general public about programs and services for youth.
The Office strives to ensure a stable, safe and healthful environment for children and families in Maryland. For programs and services affecting children and their families, the Office identifies inefficiencies, duplications, and gaps in services and resources. The Office then analyzes departmental plans and budget requests; reviews federal, State, local and private funds used by and available to the State; and identifies items in the Governor's budget that affect programs and services for children and their families. In addition, the Office issues impact statements and makes planning and expenditure recommendations to the Governor and department heads. The Office also advises the General Assembly on the needs of youth and their families (Code Human Services Article, secs. 8-101 through 8-1003).
Goals for Child Well-being. Eight goals for child well-being have been set for the Office by the Children's Cabinet. They are defined as:
Local Management Boards. Since 1990, each county in Maryland has been required to establish a local management board to plan, implement, and monitor child and family services. Each board determines what services are needed within the parameters of the eight goals the Children's Cabinet has set for child well-being in Maryland. Each board enters into a community partnership agreement with the Governor's Office for Children, which assists with training and technical assistance to develop resources, implement programs, and become fiscally accountable. Reflecting the interagency nature of services for children and families, each board must include representatives from the local health department; the local office of the Department of Juvenile Services; the core service (mental health) agency; the county public school system; and the local department of social services. Other members representing public and private community organizations also may serve on a board.
Appointed by the Governor, the Executive Director chairs the Children's Cabinet and the Advisory Council to the Children's Cabinet, and serves on the State Child Fatality Review Team; the Children's Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council; the Interagency Disabilities Board; the Maryland State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council; the Governor's Family Violence Council; the Governor's Interagency Council on Homelessness; and the Maryland Commission on Suicide Prevention.
The Office oversees four primary functional components: Finance and Operations; Grant and Contract Administration; Information Systems; and Interagency Initiatives.
Finance and Operations is responsible for Children's Cabinet Interagency Fund Administration; and Fiscal and Human Resources. Children's Cabinet Interagency Fund Administration oversees the administration of the Children's Cabinet Fund. The Fund supports the work of local management boards in Maryland counties (Code Human Resources Article, secs. 8-501 through 8-506).
On December 30, 1999, the Board issued its first comprehensive plan for the Maryland After-School Opportunity Fund Program. The first request for proposals was distributed to local jurisdictions through local management boards in February 2000. In order to receive funding, each local jurisdiction was expected to develop a comprehensive after-school program network with significant community input.
The Advisory Board last met in 2001. Due to budget constraints, the Maryland After-School Opportunity Fund was partially funded in FY2004, and not funded at all in FY2005.
In October 2012, the Advisory Board was re-established in the Governor's Office for Children as the Advisory Board on After-School and Summer Opportunity Programs (Chapter 531, Acts of 2012; Code Human Services Article, secs. 8-1101 through 8-1107).
Currently, Interagency Initiatives is responsible for Prevention Strategies. The office is aided by the State Coordinating Council for Children.
The Council has developed procedures for local care teams to ensure that children with disabilities in residential placement receive a complete plan of care. With the local care teams, the Council monitors services for children with disabilities who may need or are in residential placement. It also maintains an information system that assures agency accountability to children with disabilities and enables the State to plan for needed services.
Ten members constitute the Council. Seven are ex officio members, two of whom do not vote. Three members are appointed by the Children's Cabinet (Code Human Services Article, secs. 8-401 through 8-404; Chapter 604, Acts of 2011).
PREVENTION STRATEGIES
Prevention Strategies originated as Positive Youth Outcomes, and reformed under its present name in March 2008. Prevention Strategies helps plan and implement local programs that prevent youths from dropping out of school, committing crimes, and engaging in other activities which bring them into the juvenile justice system. Such prevention and diversion programs should serve youth in their communities with alternatives to incarceration and institutionalization, help youth gain self sufficiency, accept personal responsibility for their actions, and be ready for adulthood at age 21.
Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
Maryland Departments
Maryland Independent Agencies
Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
Maryland Universities & Colleges
Maryland Counties
Maryland Municipalities
Maryland at a Glance
Maryland Manual On-Line
Search the Manual
e-mail: mdmanual@mdarchives.state.md.us