ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

In 1978, the Office for Children, Youth, and Families began as the Office for Children and Youth (Chapter 426, Acts of 1978). It reorganized under its current name in 1990 (Chapter 419, Acts of 1990). From January 1997 to July 2003, the Office was placed under the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

Headed by the Special Secretary for Children, Youth, and Families, the Office for Children, Youth, and Families 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 Special Secretary from child advocacy groups and parents. The Office also informs families and the general public about programs and services for youth.

The Special Secretary for Children, Youth, and Families 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 Special Secretary identifies inefficiencies, duplications, and gaps in services and resources. The Special Secretary 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 Special Secretary issues impact statements and makes planning and expenditure recommendations to the Governor and department heads. The Special Secretary 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 Special Secretary coordinates the work of government agencies. The Special Secretary chairs the Subcabinet for Children, Youth, and Families, and serves on the Cabinet Council on Criminal and Juvenile Justice; the Advisory Board on After-School Opportunity Programs; the State Child Fatality Review Team; the Maryland Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families; and the Commission on Juvenile Justice Jurisdiction.

The Office supervises two divisions: Operations; and Policies, Initiatives, and Councils.

OPERATIONS

Initiated in January 2000 as Finance and Operations, this office reorganized as Operations in 2003. Operations is responsible for Budget Administration, Human Resources, Procurement, and Subcabinet Fund Administration.

POLICIES, INITIATIVES, & COUNCILS

Policies, Initiatives, and Councils formed in January 2000 as Policy and Planning. It reorganized under its present name in 2003. This division oversees Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention; the Children's Trust Fund; Community Collaborations; Home Visiting; Consortium and Healthy Families; Juvenile Justice Monitoring; and Research, Evaluation and Data Collection. Also within this division are the Governor's Council on Adolescent Pregnancy; and the State Commission on Infant Mortality Prevention.

GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY

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).

STATE COMMISSION ON INFANT MORTALITY PREVENTION

The Commission works to reduce infant mortality in Maryland. In accordance with the Infant Mortality Prevention Strategic Plan, it advises the Governor on distribution of State community incentive grants to prevent infant deaths.

For maternal and infant health care, the Commission also established a regional perinatal system. It also recommends a system of perinatal surveillance and data collection, and seeks to increase the availability of skilled health care providers for needy pregnant women, mothers, and infants.

The Commission has twenty members. Twelve are appointed to three-year terms by the Governor. Eight serve ex officio (Code 1957, Art. 49D, secs. 30-36).

MARYLAND SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTER INITIATIVE
In 1994, the Maryland School-Based Health Center Initiative began as Maryland Making the Grade within the Office for Children, Youth, and Families. It received its present name in January 1998 and, since 1996, has been supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The Initiative helps communities establish health centers in schools. For children from low-income families who otherwise might not receive medical care, the centers provide access to comprehensive health care. Services includes preventive dental care, health education, mental health services, medical care, and social services. Most centers are based in elementary schools and are managed locally. In seven counties and Baltimore City, fifty-five centers operated during the 1999-2000 school year.

MARYLAND SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTER POLICY ADVISORY COUNCIL

CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT PREVENTION

STATE COUNCIL ON 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 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

The Governor appoints the Board's nine members to three-year terms (Code 1957, Art. 49D, secs. 6-7).

COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS

In 1995, Community Collaborations 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.

Community Collaborations 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. Community Collaborations is aided by the State Coordinating Council for Children.

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.

Seven members constitute the State Coordinating Council. Six serve ex officio. One is a nonvoting member (Code 1957, Art. 49D, secs. 13-20).

HOME VISITING CONSORTIUM & HEALTHY FAMILIES

Home Visiting Consortium and Healthy Families started in 1999 as Healthy Families Maryland, and became Home Visiting in 2001. It received its present name in 2003. This unit helps parents learn how to recognize their babies' needs and how to care for them. It is modeled on the national initiative, Healthy Families America. A public-private partnership, Home Visiting Consortium and Healthy Families coordinates a system that enables communities to support and educate parents. Long-term home visitation services, standardized assessments, and referrals to other services are part of the program.

JUVENILE JUSTICE MONITORING

OFFICE OF THE INDEPENDENT JUVENILE JUSTICE MONITOR
Within the Office for Children, Youth, and Families, the Office of the Independent Juvenile Justice Monitor was created in October 2002 (Chapter 255, Acts of 2002). The Office oversees the residential facilities where youth who are serious and chronic offenders are confined. Formerly, these residential facilities were supervised by the Department of Juvenile Justice. Now, the Office of the Independent Juvenile Justice Monitor evaluates the process by which the Department of Juvenile Services monitors these residential facilities. The Office also reviews the treatment of youth, examining allegations of child abuse or neglect in the facilities. In addition, the Office evaluates services to youth, and the physical conditions of each facility.

Quarterly and annually, the Office reports to the Subcabinet for Children, Youth, and Families; the Secretary of Juvenile Services; and the Special Secretary for Children, Youth, and Families.

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.