AGING SERVICES DIVISION
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 Division also receives local funds, private donations, and contributions from program participants.
The Division is aided by the Advisory Committee on Aging.
CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES DIVISION
The Division is responsible for the Local Management Board.
The Board consists of twenty-five members. Fifteen members serve ex officio; nine are appointed to three-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent; and one represents the County Council (County Code, sec. 2-439).
MENTAL HEALTH & DISABILITIES DIVISION
Social service and public assistance programs in Prince George's County are the responsibility of the Department of Social 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 Resources and the advice of the Prince George's 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 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 Prince George's 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
Appointed by the County Executive, the Board's nine-members serve three-year terms (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-501 through 3-503; County Charter, sec. 554).
The Aging Services Division started as the Aging Services Administration, which reformed as a division in 2011. The Division is the local area agency designated by Prince George's 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).
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AGING
The Committee consists of twenty-four members appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent (County Code, secs. 2-113 through 2-115).
The Children, Youth and Families Division formerly was the Children, Youth and Families Administration, and adopted its present name in 2011. The Division plans, implements, and monitors a system of care to help children and their families become self-sufficient, safe, and healthy in their homes and communities.
LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
The Local Management Board in Prince George's County is known as the Commission for Children, Youth, and Families. The Board coordinates a system of local services for Prince George's 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.
In 2005, the Infividuals with Disabilities Office merged with the Mental Health Authority Division to form the Mental Health and Disabilities Administration within the Department of Family Services.
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). 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.
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 Board was renamed as the Social Services Board under the Prince George's County Department of Social Services (Chapter 148, Acts of 1967; Chapter 702, Acts of 1968).
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