QAC Department of Social Services

The mission of Queen Anne’s County Department of Social Services is to provide vulnerable individuals and families in Queen Anne’s County with the services and support necessary to achieve independence. We envision a quality of life in Queen Anne’s County in which individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency and are safe from abuse and neglect. We maintain a work environment that values teamwork, respect, dignity, and effective communication. We are committed to providing high quality service in times of crisis and economic hardship. The Department of Social Services provides a wide range of services and determines eligibility for numerous benefit programs. Funding comes from various sources. The (state) Department of Human Services administers the programs and provides Federal/State funding to the local office. The County, along with other organizations, provides additional funding to assist county citizens. County resident, Susan Coppage, LCSW-C, serves as the Agency Director. The Advisory Board is composed of residents with an interest in helping others.

FAMILY INVESTMENT ADMINISTRATION

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

Program – Helps income-eligible households supplement their food budget. Temporary Cash Assistance – Offers time limited financial assistance for families with children. Requirements (may) include cooperation with Child Support Enforcement, Addiction Screening, and Employment Services.

Temporary Disability Assistance

Program – Provides state-funded financial benefits to needy, disabled individuals who meet certain medical qualifications. Public Assistance to Adults – Provides cash assistance to adults who live in licensed group homes because of age, physical, and/or medical condition.

Emergency Assistance to Families with

Children – Helps resolve crisis situations such as eviction, mortgage foreclosure, utility cutoffs, or other emergency bills. Burial Assistance – Provides limited assistance to individuals who meet certain eligibility requirements. Visit https://mymdthink. maryland.gov

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE MEDICAID Medical Assistance – Helps eligible aged, blind, disabled, families and/or individuals obtain a variety of medical services. Visit https://mymdthink. maryland.govThe Maryland Health Connection is the state-based health insurance marketplace for individuals, families, and small businesses to compare and enroll in health insurance, as well as determine eligibility for Medicaid and other assistance programs, federal tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. Uninsured and underinsured individuals can learn about plans and prices by visiting www.MarylandHealthConnection.gov Long Term Care Medicaid – Covers nursing home services for eligible people who need to be in a nursing home. Visit https://mymdthink. maryland.gov

OFFICE OF HOME ENERGY PROGRAMS — Provides grants to incomeeligible households to make home energy costs more affordable. The program can also prevent utility cutoffs, restore lost energy services, and help households pay past-due electric bills. Visit https://mymdthink.maryland.gov

AMERICAN JOB CENTER American Job Center is a partnership with local workforce development agencies to provide a full range of assistance to job seekers (free of charge). The Center is staffed with qualified professionals who can assist with numerous employment-related services. The AJC stands ready to serve with highquality services and programs. Job seeker services include career exploration assistance, referrals to training programs, placement services, resume preparation assistance, and workshops to enhance job seeking skills and work readiness. Job Seekers have access to computers with Microsoft Office, the Internet, printers, photocopiers, fax machines and telephones, and a variety of job search resources materials. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities including supportive services for unemployed and underemployed parent(s) meeting Temporary Cash Assistance Program requirements. The Queen Anne’s County American Job Center is located at 125 Comet Drive Centreville, Maryland and is open to the public Monday– Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, except state Holidays. You may apply online anytime for financial assistance by visiting https://mymdthink.maryland.gov

CHILD SUPPORT ADMINISTRATION Child Support Program – Assists families with collecting financial support needed to raise the standard of living of children by enforcing their right to receive financial support from both parents.

Non-Custodial Parent Employment

Program – Assists current and former TCA Non-custodial parents with obtaining work.

Re-engaging Individuals through Success for

Employment – A regional collaboration that assists non-custodial parents in obtaining and maintaining employment.

CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES Child Protective Services – Is a service provided to assist children believed to be neglected or abused by parents or other adults having permanent or temporary care or custody, or parental responsibility. The priority of CPS is to safely maintain a child in their home and to protect the child from further harm and maltreatment. There are two responses to reports of child maltreatment, Investigative Response and Alternative Response. The Investigative Response is applied for those reports of child abuse that meet the criteria of high or moderate risk to a child’s safety, while the Alternative Response is applied for reports that meet the criteria of low risk. Both approaches to reports of child maltreatment involve collaborative work with families to seek solutions in assisting the family in gaining the help needed to reduce the risk of further maltreatment. Services to Families with Children – Provides crisis intervention, referrals to community resources, and counseling in the areas of health, parenting, school adjustment, and family relationships. Consolidated In-Home Services – Provides family-centered, time limited services to families whose children are at risk of out-of- home placements.

Inter-agency Family Preservation

Services – Provides time-limited, intensive family-centered services for families whose children are at risk of out-of-home placements. The worker teaches new skills and/or coordinates services that will maximize the families’ strengths to ensure that they remain together on a long-term basis. Foster Care Services for Children – Provides a temporary living arrangement for children who cannot remain at home because of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The Department actively recruits families to provide foster homes for these children. Adoption Services for Children – Provides permanent families for children who cannot live with or be safely reunited with their birth parents or extended families. The Nurturing Program – A series of twelve classes that promote positive parenting practices, alternatives to corporate punishment, and increased communication skills to parents and children.

Child Abuse Response & Evaluation

(CARE) Center – A Child Advocacy Center that coordinates the investigative, medical, mental health and legal response to allegations of child sexual abuse and serious physical abuse and neglect.

ADULT SERVICES

Social Services to Adults – Provides counseling, assistance in locating appropriate community resources, and other services necessary to assist the adult(s) to function in a self-sufficient and independent manner. Adult Protective Services – Investigates reports of suspected abuse, neglect, selfneglect, and/or exploitation of vulnerable adults who lack the physical or mental capacity to provide for their own daily needs. In-Home Aide Services – Aides assist in caring for functionally disabled adults with chores, personal care, budgeting, nutrition, and general daily living activities to stabilize and enable them to remain in their own home.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS The Agency participates in many community partnerships to better serve our residents. We work with such partners as: The Office on Aging, Community Partnerships for Children, Court Appointed Special Advocates, The Family Center, Department of Juvenile Services, Board of Education, Health Department, The Judy Center, Local Law Enforcement Agencies, Office of the State’s Attorney, Circuit and District Courts, and Department of Emergency Services.

CONTACT / HOURS OF OPERATION 125 Comet Drive Centreville, MD 21617 410-758-8000 Main 410-810-1087 Upper County Email – qac.dss@maryland.gov Dhr.maryland.gov/local-offices/ queen-annes-county/ Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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