AGING & SENIOR PROGRAMS DIVISION
The Division is the local area agency designated by Charles County 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.
TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS DIVISION
VANGO
Specialized transportation is available for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Social service and public assistance programs in Charles County are the responsibility of the Department of Social Services. 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 Resources and the advice of the Charles County Social Services Board, the Board of County Commissioners appoints the Director (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-303).
The Board's eleven members are appointed to four-year terms by the Board of County Commissioners (Code Family Law Article, secs. 14-401 through 14-404).
CITIZEN REVIEW BOARD FOR CHILDREN
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 Charles 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
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the Board's nine-members serve four-year terms (Code Human Services Article, secs. 3-501 through 3-503).
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Functions of the Aging and Senior Programs Division were first assigned to Upper Shore Aging, then transferred to the Aging and Community Centers Divsision of the Department of Community Services. The Divsion was renamed the Aging and Senior Programs Division.
The Transportation and Community Programs Division began under the Department of Community Services as the Transportation Division, and adopted its present name in 2010. The Division offers public transportation through its VanGO bus service.
LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD
The Local Management Board coordinates a system of local services for Charles 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.
VanGO is a public transportation system, operated by a private firm under contract with the County. VanGo provides bus service to the College of Southern Maryland, the St. Charles Towne Center Mall, employment locations, medical facilities, and numerous shopping centers. Routes cover the Waldorf, St. Charles, La Plata, Indian Head, Charlotte Hall, Newburg, and Nanjemoy areas, and link up with the St. Mary's Transit System in Charlotte Hall.
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).
ADULT PUBLIC GUARDIANSHIP REVIEW BOARD
The Adult Public Guardianship Review Board was created in 1984 (Chapter 552, Acts of 1984). 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.
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).
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 Charles County Department of Social Services (Chapter 148, Acts of 1967; Chapter 702, Acts of 1968).
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