The Governor's Office for Children helps State and local government agencies and organizations 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 works 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 1957, Art. 49D, secs. 1-29).
Appointed by the Governor, the Executive Director chairs the Children's Cabinet, and serves on the Cabinet Council on Criminal and Juvenile Justice; the State Child Fatality Review Team; and the Interagency Disabilities Board.
The Office oversees the Fiscal Office; Interagency Policy Development; the Office of the Independent Juvenile Justice Monitor; Local Management Boards; Local Management Boards Monitoring; and Research, Evaluation, and Data Collection.
Local Management Boards coordinates a system of local services for children and youth. 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 unit coordinates services so that Maryland children, placed in programs out-of-state, may be helped closer to home. This office is aided by the State Coordinating Council for Children.
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.
Eight members constitute the State Coordinating Council. Seven serve ex officio. One is appointed by the Governor (Code 1957, Art. 49D, sec. 4-101).
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FISCAL OFFICE
The Fiscal Office was initiated in January 2000 as Finance and Operations. It reorganized in 2003 as Operations responsible for Budget Administration, Human Resources, Procurement, and Subcabinet Fund Administration. When Operations was disbanded in June 2005, the Fiscal Office was created to assume its financial responsibilities.
INTERAGENCY POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Interagency Policy Development formed in January 2000 as Policy and Planning. It became Policies, Initiatives, and Councils in 2003, and reorganized under its present name in October 2004. This division oversees Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention.
LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARDS
In 1995, Local Management Boards started as the System Integration Support Division within the Office for Children, Youth, and Families. Renamed the Service Integration Division in 1996, it became System Integration in 1997, Community Partnerships for Children, Youth, and Families in December 1998, and Community Collaborations in 2003. In 2005, it reorganized as Local Management Boards.
STATE COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR CHILDREN
In 1982, the State Coordinating Council of Children was authorized by the Governor as the State Coordinating Council for Residential Placement of Handicapped Children (Executive Order 01.01.1982.09). Within the Office for Handicapped Individuals, the Governor reestablished the Council in 1987 (Executive Order 01.01.1987.10). The Council moved to the Office for Children, Youth, and Families in 1990 and, was renamed the State Coordinating Council in 1993 (Chapter 419, Acts of 1990; Chapter 556, Acts of 1993). The Council adopted its present name in July 2002 (Chapter 282, Acts of 2002).
LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARDS MONITORING
Local Management Boards Monitoring began in 2003 as Juvenile Justice and Local Management Boards Monitoring. It was then responsible for the Office of the Independent Juvenile Justice Monitor.
RESEARCH, EVALUATION, & DATA COLLECTION
Research, Evaluation, and Data Collection formed in February 2001 as Research, Evaluation, and Monitoring, and reorganized under its present name in 2003. It oversees program and fiscal monitoring, as well as research and development.
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