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GOVERNOR

GOVERNOR'S COORDINATING OFFICES

OFFICE FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, & FAMILIES

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 functioned 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 Governor's Council on Adolescent Pregnancy; the Advisory Board on After-School Opportunity Programs; the Task Force to Study Alternative Living Arrangements for Children in Out-of-Home Placement; the State Child Fatality Review Team; the Interagency Disabilities Board; the State Commission on Infant Mortality Prevention; the Task Force to Study the Mentoring and Monitoring of Children in the Custody of or under the Supervision of the Department of Juvenile Services; and the Maryland Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families.

The Office oversees: Community Collaborations; Juvenile Justice and Local Management Boards Monitoring; Operations; Policies, Initiatives, and Councils; and Research, Evaluation, and Data Collection.


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.

HOME-VISITING CONSORTIUM & HEALTHY FAMILIES
Home-Visiting Consortium and Healthy Families originated 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 & LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARDS MONITORING

Juvenile Justice and Local Management Boards Monitoring is responsible for the Office of the Independent Juvenile Justice Monitor; and Research, Evaluation, and Data Collection.

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.


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 and the Children's Trust Fund. Also within this division are the Governor's Council on Adolescent Pregnancy; and the State Commission on Infant Mortality Prevention.

CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT PREVENTION

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.

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