Harford County, Maryland FY 24 Proposed Operating Budget

COMMUNITY SERVICES Director of Community Services Index #091000

ORIGIN/PURPOSE:

The Department of Community Services was established pursuant to Chapter 16, Article IV, Section 22 of the Harford County Code.

The Department of Community Services develops and coordinates programs which meet an array of needs in Harford County. The agencies and programs include: the Office of Human Relations and Mediation; the Division of Children, Youth and Families, the Office of Disability; the Office on Aging; and the Office of Drug Control Policy. Three divisions are included under the Director's budget: Office of Human Relations and Mediation, Office of Disability Services, Office of Children, Youth and Families. The Office of Human Relations and Mediation works to strengthen our communities by investigating and resolving complaints of unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, education, public accommodation, credit, and other areas, and providing information to employers and the general public about human relations matters. This includes studying the origin and impact of social friction in the community and making recommendations to the County Executive and Council to alleviate social problems, and promote equality, understanding and harmonious relations among the citizens of Harford County. Further, the Office of Human Relations and Mediation coordinates, develops and directs the activities of the Human Relations Commission, Women's Commission, Mediation Commission, and Volunteer Harford. The Office of Disability Services advocates for citizens with disabilities and acts as a catalyst for positive change. The Office promotes and facilitates the independence of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life and connects individuals with disabilities, their families, and their caregivers to resources regarding health care, employment, disability benefits and accessible housing. The office supports Harford County's Disability Commission, and investigates and resolves matters. The Office of Children, Youth and Families advocates for children, youth and families, provides financial and development assistance to public and private organizations that deliver human services, and administers local and state grant funding to meet public service needs not provided by County Government. FY 24 GOALS: TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND RAISE AWARENESS OF AVAILABLE HUMAN SERVICES, NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THREATS TO PUBLIC SAFETY TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOP OPPORTUNITIES FOR RE-ENTRY PROGRAMS IN COUNTY TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND UTILIZATION OF THE MEDIATION PROGRAM. TO INCREASE PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS WITH THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND PROVIDERS THROUGH OUTREACH, CREATING A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE, AND HOST AT LEAST THREE COMMUNITY EVENTS TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT THE GRANT IN AID PROGRAM TO DEVELOP AND SUPPORT AT RISK YOUTH OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AWARENESS AND EMPLOYMENT ACCESSIBILITY TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION

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