The Office for Children, Youth, and Families helps State and local government agencies and organizations assist young people effectively and economically. The Office also informs families and the general public about programs and services for youth.
Appointed by the Governor, the Special Secretary for Children, Youth, and Families works to ensure a stable, safe and healthful environment for children and families in Maryland. The Special Secretary coordinates the work of government agencies to provide care through prevention, early intervention, and community services. Priority is given to children and families most at risk.
For programs and services affecting children and their families, the Special Secretary identifies inefficiencies, duplications, and gaps in services and resources. The Special Secretary analyzes departmental plans and budget requests; reviews federal, State, local and private funds used by and available to the State; identifies relevant items in the Governor's budget; issues impact statements; and makes planning and expenditure recommendations to the Governor and department heads.
The Special Secretary cooperates with State and local government agencies to coordinate services and resources. From child advocacy groups and parents, the Special Secretary receives advice on local resources, needs, and priorities. The Special Secretary also advises the legislature on the needs of children and their families (Code 1957, Art. 49D, secs. 1-29).
The Office supervises two divisions: Administration, and Finance. In addition, the Office oversees four programs: the Children's Trust Fund; Early Childhood and Headstart Partnerships; Maryland Making the Grade; and Systems Integration.
The Office is aided by the State Commission on Infant Mortality Prevention; the Governor's Council on Child Abuse and Neglect; and the Governor's Council on Adolescent Pregnancy.
CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT
Appointed by the Governor, the Council consists of up to twenty-one members who serve three-year terms.
CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND
The Governor appoints the Board's nine members to three-year terms (Code 1957, Art. 49D, secs. 6-7).
Child Care Coordination coordinates policy, planning, and development for child-care programs among State government agencies and with local planners, child-care coordinators and advocates, and users of child care. The office promotes and markets public/ private partnerships for assistance and support in child care for employees, employers, and families.
To better serve families in the federal Head-Start Program, the Head-Start Collaboration Network helps coordinate Program services with other community services. The Network links Head-Start services with those of local health-care providers, education agencies, child care programs, employment projects, and community organizations.
STATE COMMISSION ON INFANT MORTALITY PREVENTION
The Commission works to reduce infant mortality in Maryland. In accordance with the Infant Mortality Prevention Strategic Plan, the Commission advises the Governor on distribution of State community incentive grants to prevent infant mortality.
For maternal and infant health care, the Commission established a regional perinatal system. The Commission aims to increase the availability of skilled health care providers for needy pregnant women, mothers, and infants and makes recommendations for a perinatal surveillance and data collection system.
The Commission has twenty members. Sixteen are appointed to three-year terms by the Governor. Four serve ex officio (Code 1957, Art. 49D, secs. 30-36).
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY
The Council works to reduce unplanned adolescent pregnancies in Maryland. Concerned with the social, educational, economic, health and legal problems of teen pregnancy and parenthood, the Council develops a statewide plan for reducing adolescent pregnancy and improving services to at-risk pregnant and parenting teenagers. The Council promotes interdepartmental, public and private coordination of policies and programs.
The Council consists of twenty members. Twelve are appointed to three-year terms by the Governor. Six serve ex officio. Two student members appointed by the Governor serve two-year terms. Every two years, the Governor names the chair (Code 1957, Art. 49D, secs. 21-27).
Systems Integration coordinates a system of services administered locally for children and youth. Health, education, social and justice services are provided to children and youth who may be moved from their home because of abuse, neglect, delinquency, or special needs. The division coordinates services in the community so that Maryland children, placed in programs out-of-state, may be helped closer to home. The division is aided by the State Coordinating Council.
The Council has developed procedures for Local Coordinating Councils to ensure that children with disabilities in residential placement receive a complete plan of care. With the Local Coordinating Councils, the State Coordinating 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.
Seven members constitute the State Coordinating Council. Six serve ex officio. One is a nonvoting member (Code 1957, Art. 49D, secs. 13-20).
To coordinate the licensing process for residential child-care facilities in all agencies, the Board issued regulations in September 1991. From the Board, providers can learn about Maryland's licensing standards. The Board also offers workshops and a manual for providers. In addition, the Board developed core regulations covering common administrative and facility issues.
The Board has eight members. Five serve ex officio. Three are nonvoting members.
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT
The Governor's Council on Child Abuse and Neglect was created by the Governor in 1986 (Executive Order 01.01.1986.07). The Council advises the Governor on programs to prevent, detect, and treat child abuse and neglect. The Council is part of the Office for Children, Youth, and Families for budgetary and administrative purposes only.
The Children's Trust Fund provides grants to public and private community organizations and agencies for innovative programs to prevent child abuse and provide treatment.
CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND ADVISORY BOARD
Formed in 1989, the Children's Trust Fund Advisory Board reviews applications for grants from the Children's Trust Fund (Chapter 757, Acts of 1989).
DIRECTOR
EARLY CHILDHOOD & HEAD START PARTNERSHIPS
Early Childhood and Head Start Partnerships was formed as Early Childhood Partnerships in 1996. It received its present name in 1997. The office oversees Child Care Coordination and the Head-Start Collaboration Network. Both programs began in 1993.
MARYLAND ADVISORY COUNCIL ON THE HEAD-START COLLABORATION NETWORK
The Maryland Advisory Council on the Head-Start Collaboration Network was established in 1995. The Council works through a steering committee and three standing committees concerned with: Child Care, Health, and Community Capacity Building.
The State Commission on Infant Mortality Prevention was created in 1991 (Chapter 413, Acts of 1991). The Commission was overseen by the Governor's Council on Adolescent Pregnancy from 1991 to December 1993, when it came under Prevention and Early Intervention for Young Children. In 1995, it was placed under the Policy and Program Development Divison and, in 1997, under the Director.
The Governor's Council on Adolescent Pregnancy was established in 1986 (Chapter 121, Acts of 1986). The Council had been an independent agency located in the Department of Human Resources for budgetary and administrative purposes. In 1990, the Council was transferred to the Office for Children, Youth, and Families (Chapter 419, Acts of 1990).
MARYLAND MAKING THE GRADE
In 1994, Maryland Making the Grade was formed to plan services for school-based health centers. In April 1996, the Office for Children, Youth, and Families was named to receive and manage the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant called Making the Grade - State and Local Partnerships to Establish School-Based Health Centers. For the Office for Children, Youth, and Families, Maryland Making the Grade develops policy and administers the grant.
SYSTEMS INTEGRATION
Within the Office for Children, Youth, and Families, Systems Integration was formed as the System Integration Support Division in 1995. It was renamed Service Integration Division in 1996 and received its present name in 1997.
STATE COORDINATING COUNCIL
In 1982, the State Coordinating Council was formed by the Governor as the State Coordinating Council for Residential Placement of Handicapped Children (Executive Order 01.01.1982.09). The Governor reestablished the Council within the Office for Handicapped Individuals in 1987 (Executive Order 01.01.1987.10). The Council was transferred to the Office for Children, Youth, and Families in 1990 (Chapter 419, Acts of 1990). In 1993, the Council received its present name (Chapter 556, Acts of 1993).
LICENSING POLICY BOARD
The Licensing Policy Board was formed by the Governor's Subcabinet for Children, Youth, and Families in January 1991. The Board coordinates licensing and regulating of residential child-care facilities. It also arranges for technical assistance to providers and potential providers and tracks development of new residential resources.
ADMINISTRATION
Formed in 1997, Administration oversees communications; management information systems; personnel, procurement, and purchasing; and research, evaluation, and planning.
Governor's Coordinating Offices
Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
Maryland Manual On-Line