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 Maryland Manual On-Line, 2020

July 31, 2020

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TALBOT COUNTY, MARYLAND

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

COMMUNITY SERVICES

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

UPPER SHORE AGING

Upper Shore Aging is the local area agency designated by Caroline, Kent and Talbot Counties 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).

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 Department also receives local funds, private donations, and contributions from program participants.

    COMMISSION ON AGING
    The Commission on Aging advocates for the County’s senior citizens, providing information and recommendations to the County Council. Members of the Commission gather information on funding programs and resources at the local, State and federal levels, and provide general oversight of operations and programs serving the County's senior citizens.

    Commission members are appointed by the County Council to three-year terms.

LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN
Ombudsman staff and volunteers advocate for the rights of nursing-home residents and seniors in assisted-living facilities and continuing-care centers.

MARYLAND ACCESS POINT (MAP) CENTER
The Maryland Access Point (MAP) Center provides seniors with information on assisted-living facilities, in-home care and long-term care, Medicare, nursing homes, and rehabilitation facilities.

SENIOR CENTERS
Upper Shore Aging, Inc. manages Brooklett’s Place Senior Center at Easton, and Bay Hundred Senior Center at St. Michaels . Both centers offer activities, including day trips, arts and crafts, exercise and fitness programs, educational programs, and nutritious mid-day meals. The Brooklett’s Place Senior Center also houses the County’s Maryland Access Point (MAP) Center and Senior Assistance and Information Services.

LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD

Functions of the Local Management Board originated in 1990 with formation of the Mid-Shore Council for Children, Youth, and Families serving Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Talbot counties. In July 1997, Talbot County moved from this regional board to create its own local management board. In Talbot County, the Local Management Board was renamed the Talbot Family Network in June 1998.

The Board coordinates a system of local services for Talbot 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.

    BOARD OF DIRECTORS
    The Board of Directors consists of up to twenty members. Presently, eight are appointed by the County Council to three-year terms, and seven serve ex officio.

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).

Social service and public assistance programs in Talbot County are the responsibility of the Department of Social Services. These include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the food stamp program), and Temporary Cash Assistance, as well as services for adoption, foster care, and child protection. To implement programs and provide support services to children and families in their communities, the Department also works with local organizations to offer education and training, transitional housing, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. 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 Services and the advice of the Talbot County Social Services Board, the County Council appoints the Director (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-303).

    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.

    The Board's eleven members are appointed to three-year terms by the County Council (Code Family Law Article, secs. 14-401 through 14-404).

    CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD FOR CHILDREN
    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).

    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 Talbot 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
    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 Talbot County Department of Social Services (Chapter 148, Acts of 1967; Chapter 702, Acts of 1968).

    Appointed by the County Council, the Board's nine-members serve three-year terms (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-501 through 3-503).

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