History of the Human Services Council

The Governor's Office for Children initiated a statewide effort to improve the delivery of services to children and families, move decision-making for child and family services to the local level and focus attention on achieving results from services. Through this effort, the state formed partnerships with local communities to improve the lives of children and families. The State and Local communities are committed to promoting and funding strategies and services to ensure that one or more of the following Result Areas are met:

• Babies are born healthy

• Children continue to be healthy

• Children are safe in their homes and communities

• Families are stable and economically self-sufficient

• Children enter school ready to learn

• Children are successful in school

• Children complete school

• Communities support family life

In response to this effort, Caroline County formed the Human Services Council (the Council) in 1996. This Council represents public and private agencies and members of the community who are committed to ensuring the health and well-being of the children and families of Caroline County. In an effort to maximize resources the Council has chosen to focus on three Result Areas, these Result Areas are reviewed annually to ensure the needs of Children, Youth and Families are being met.

The Caroline County Human Services Council was chosen in 1997 to pilot the Community Partnership Process. This process involved negotiating and planning with state agencies to develop the Community Family Network Plan which provides strategies and services aimed at achieving the three prioritized outcomes listed above. This plan began on September 23, 1998 and the results of the plan's first year are summarized in the 1999 Annual Report.

Background 

The establishment of Local Management Boards (LMB's) was origionally provided for in Article 49D that was enacted in 1990 and sunset on June 30, 2005. In response to the sunset of Article 49D, Executive Order 01.01.2005.34 was issued on June 9, 2006, establishing the Children's Cabinet and the Bovernor's Office for Children (GOC). During the 2006 Legislative Session, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 294/HB301 that re-codified the LMB's in each county and Baltimore City. These bills were signed into law on May 2, 2006, re-establishing the LMB's in Article 49D (now Human Services Article §8-301-305).

LMB's serve as the coordinator of collaboration for child and family services. The bring together local child-serving agencies, local child providers, clients of services, families, and other community representatives to empower local stakeholders in addressing the needs of and setting priorities for their communities. There is an LMB in each county and in Baltimore City.

A community Partnership Agreement (CPA) with the Covernor's Office for Children is established after an LMB conducts a community needs assessment, negotiates wit the State, and makes a long-term commitment to produce improved outcomes in the State's eight result areas for child and family well-being.

Role of the LMB 

Local Management Boards receive an annual allocation of pooled State funding from the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department of Education, and the Department of Juvenile Services. The Local Management Board is then responsible for ensuring that Family Preservation and Return / Diversion services are provided to families in their jurisdiction. In addition, as more funds are pooled, Local Management Boards carry out the following responsibilities:

• To continually assess the needs and identify gaps in services to children, youth and families in Caroline County.
• To develop and enhance communication between and among agencies and organizations that serve children, youth and families through partnership building.
• To plan, coordinate, and evaluate programs and services that benefit children, youth and families so as to improve child and family outcomes.
• To secure, distribute and monitor public/private funding for the benefit of children, youth and families.
• To provde information to the public on the status of services for children, youth and families.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTERESTED IN BECOMING A HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER MAY CONTACT THE HSC OFFICE AT 410-479-4446.  BOARD MEMBER TERMS ARE 3 YEARS AND MAY BE RE-APPOINTED TO A SECOND TERM.  THE HSC BOARD MEETS THE THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH EXCEPT JULY AND DECEMBER.