Local Management Board of Allegany County, Inc.

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Vision Statement

Parents and caregivers will have the resources to create nurturing, stable environments for the county's children.

Community Partnership for Children, Youth and Families

The Local Management Board (LMB) of Allegany County, Inc. was established as part of the Systems Reform Initiative (SRI) initiated by Governor William Donald Schaefer. SRI was created in order to restructure the human service delivery system to an interagency basis in order to assist Maryland's children and families to build their capacity to become self-sufficient, safe and healthy.

Local Management Boards in each of Maryland's twenty-three counties and Baltimore City facilitate collaborative partnerships in communities and work to break down any barriers that prevent effective service delivery to their community's children and families.

The Local Management Board (LMB) of Allegany County was originally established in July 1993 as a public entity under the auspices of the County Commissioners. In July 2005, the Local Management Board of Allegany County, Inc. was incorporated as an independent Quasi-Public Private Nonprofit organization and empowered by theAllegany County Commissioners to act as the county's Local Management Board.

The Local Management Board identifies priorities and targets resources for improved services based on community needs assessments. Strategies for success are then negotiated with the State to produce improved results in the eight areas of child and family well being. The eight areas of child and family well being are:

Babies Born Healthy
Healthy Children
Children Enter School Ready to Learn
Children Successful in School
Children Completing School
Children Safe in Their Families & Communities
Stable & Economically Independent Families
Communities Which Support Family Life

This strategic plan to improve results in the eight areas of child well being, expand and enhance programs, and establish accountability is known as our Community Partnership for Children and Families.

Local Coordinating Council

Purpose:
The State Coordinating Council for Residential Placement of Disabled Children (SCC) and the Local Coordinating Councils (LCCs) were established in the 1980’s as a result of the State’s long-standing concern for children who are placed in residential treatment. The SCC is comprised of Cabinet-level Secretaries of Maryland’s child-serving agencies, or their designees. The LCCs include local representatives from each of the child-serving agencies and may also include a parent from the community and a member of a local parent-advocacy group. The goals of the SCC and LCCs are to:

· combine the resources of various agencies to improve services to these children;

· foster the development of resources necessary to serve children with special needs in Maryland;

· promote interagency coordination in the provision of services;

· ensure that State funds for the residential placement of children with special needs are allocated in accordance with Article 49D (Annotated Code of Maryland), House Bill 1386 (2003 session), and other relevant State and federal laws;

· develop interagency plans-of-care for children to assure placement in the least restrictive environment appropriate; and

· recommend and facilitate the development of new and enhanced community-based programs to serve children with disabilities who might otherwise remain in restrictive placements that are geographically distant from their families and communities.

MEMBERSHIP:

The LCC consists of representatives from the following public and private child-serving agencies as well as a parent advocate or the parent of a child with special needs.

· Allegany County Department of Social Services (DSS)

· Allegany County Public Schools (ACPS/LEA)

· Department of Juvenile Services (DJS)

· Mental Health Systems Office (MHSO) of the Allegany County Health Department, serving as the Core Service Agency (CSA)

· Health Officer for Allegany County Health Department, or designee (ACHD)

· Local Management Board of Allegany County, Inc. (LMB)

· Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA)

· Substance Abuse/Addictions Unit of the Allegany County Health Department

· Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) of the Maryland State Department of Education

Each entity identified above and the identified parent advocate will be entitled to one vote in LCC proceedings.

LCC RESPONSIBILITIES:
· Accept referrals from the lead agencies and review cases in a timely manner and at least within 30 days of a request;

· Provide support to the lead agency to develop plans of care for children brought to the Council’s attention. This may include assisting in the identification of resources or services;

· Provide assistance with referral and linkage to resources and services;

· Maintain a client database;

· Provide annual reviews of children in RTC placements and assist the lead agency with discharge planning;

· Maintain a participatory, collaborative atmosphere and relationship among the Council members that is conducive to efficient problem resolution and effective service delivery for the children and families served;

· Ensure that council members, families, and other guests are treated with dignity and respect, and apply the combined knowledge and experience represented by the LCC to serve children and families; and

· Encourage parental participation in the LCC process and in the development of plans of care.

Allegany County's Community Partnership

The 1998 Maryland General Assembly supported the expansion efforts for Community Partnerships with new funding. This funding, through the Governor's Office for Children, has facilitated greater flexibility for Local Management Boards and their partners in establishing Community Partnerships.

Allegany, Caroline, Garrett, and Montgomery Counties were the first to sign Community Partnership Agreements with the Subcabinet for Children, Youth, and Families (the child serving, State agencies).

Allegany County's Community Partnership has strong representation among the child-serving agencies including Allegany County Public Schools, the Allegany County Sheriff's Office, the Allegany County Department of Social Services, the Allegany County Health Department, and the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.

ip enables the early identification of families who are perceived to be at risk of future crisis and promotes the coordinated delivery of services to reinforce each family's ability to provide for health, safety, and positive school performance for the
The Partnership revolves around the Multi-Agency Team (MAT), which is made up of four members: one each from the Department of Social Services, Health Department, Juvenile Services, and the Sheriff's Office. In addition, Allegany County Public Schools provides staff support to the Multi-Agency Team as necessary. The MAT's mission is to: facilitate system's reform; collaborate with existing agencies; and to identify and fill service gaps.

Multi-Agency Functions:

Works to create services needed by families that are not currently available in the community;
Identifies systemic needs & refers to the Local Management Board for action;
Augments service delivery;
Provides public education regarding the needs of families & children for preventive interventions;
Receives referrals and staffs them as indicated;
Assesses individual children & family needs; and
Develops a service plan with the families to existing services in the community and providing follow-up to assure service provision.