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Cecil County Department of Social Services

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

    The General Administration provides leadership and support services that enables the Agency to operate effectively as a team. Administration oversees the operation of the agency and assures that all federal, state and local requirements and guidelines are met. Administration includes the Director's Office, Finance, Personnel, Information Management and Procurement.

SERVICES

    Social Services provides personal support, monitoring, mentoring and counseling by social workers, case aides and in-home aides. County citizens, the school system, the court system and the police departments make referrals to this division. Programs in the service division include:
  • Adult Protective Services where the department responds to all reports of suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect and exploitation of adults over age 18 or those that lack the physical or mental capacity to provide for their own daily needs; workers assess the situation, take steps to improve the safety of the affected adult and help make alternative living arrangements if deemed necessary
  • Child Protective Services responds to all reports of suspected child abuse or neglect, assess the safety of the children, takes the necessary steps to help families resolve problems that led to the abuse or neglect, monitors the safety of the children and makes alternative placements if necessary for the safety of the children
  • Family Preservation Services provides family-centered, time limited services to families whose children are at risk of out-of-home placement
  • Foster Care provides a temporary living arrangement for children who cannot remain at home because of abuse, neglect or abandonment. Efforts are made to reunite the family; care is short term until a permanent plan is made.
  • Adoption services and counseling are available to parents interested in placing a child for adoption, adoptive homes are recruited for placement of these children and assistance in adoption plans is provided
  • Parent Aide Services provide service to families at risk of abuse or neglect; parent aides serve as role models and teachers to parents and provide emotional support and assistance in daily living tasks

CECIL COUNTY CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER

    The Child Advocacy Center, which falls under the service division, brings together professionals from Law Enforcement, DSS Child Protective Services/Family Advocates, State's Attorney's Office, Union Hospital and local mental health providers to function as a multidisciplinary team for the investigation, prosecution and treatment of child abuse cases, severe physical abuse cases and child fatalities. The Child Advocacy Center is located directly across from our Help Center, just off High Street.

FAMILY INVESTMENT

    The Family Investment Program assists families who are in economic need. Based on federal and state guidelines, local department staff determines the eligibility of county citizens seeking assistance. This program is designed to provide assistance and supportive services that remove obstacles from the paths of families with dependent children as they move toward self-sufficiency, stability and independence. The programs in this division include:
  • Temporary Cash Assistance which helps families make the transition from dependence to self-sufficiency through assistance and employment
  • Food Stamps which supplements a customer's food budget by increasing the purchasing power of eligible households so they may obtain adequate nutrition
  • Medical Assistance which provides comprehensive medical and other health related care to families and disabled adults without children
  • Purchase of Day Care is a childcare financial assistance program for approved day care providers and eligible employed customers
  • Temporary Disability Assistance Program (TDAP) which provides a monthly stipend to qualified disabled adults without children
  • Long Term Care which helps families with the expenses associated with nursing homes
  • Welfare Avoidance Grants which help families in crisis from having to depend on long term public assistance by providing limited financial help
  • Maryland Children's Health Insurance Program (MCHIP) which is a specialized medical assistance program designed to assist in gaining access to medical care for pregnant women and children up through the month of their 19th birthday

    Applications for assistance are accepted on a walk-in basis during office hours.

    In our partnership with Cecil College we are able to place TCA customers in jobs. This up-front job placement service diverts applicants from welfare to work. During these tough economic times, our case loads continue to rise and our employees strive to provide the maximum amount of benefits allowed to each applicant.

CHILD SUPPORT

    Services include Intake/Location, Establishment of Paternity and/or Court Ordered Support, Enforcement and Collection. Our services are free to Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) recipients. We pursue health insurance coverage through the absent parent for children who receive medical assistance. All others may apply on a walk-in basis for a $25.00 fee.

HELP CENTER

    The Cecil County Help Center is the emergency assistance and volunteer services division of the Cecil County Department of Social Services. We operate a variety of assistance programs in conjunction with Social Services programs to meet customer's specific needs. Led by a paid staff of two, a dedicated group of volunteers provide services which are supported by monetary contributions and donations of goods and services from the community. A key to the success of the Help Center is the establishment of partnerships with area businesses, who are on-going regular donors.
    Available services include:
    Thrift shop - clothing & household items
    Food Pantry - emergency food resources
    Federal Surplus Food Distribution
    Financial Assistance - homelessness prevention
    Fuel Fund - emergency heating assistance
    Holiday Program - food baskets
    School Supplies
    Winter coat distribution

OFFICE OF HOME ENERGY PROGRAMS

    The Office of Home Energy Programs is a federal program that assists the poor, the working poor, and those on a fixed income by paying utility bills, minimizing heating crises, and making energy costs more affordable. The program also provides referrals for energy efficiency measures and referrals to other utility assistance programs.

COURT WATCH/FAMILY VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL

    The Local Family Violence Council/Court Watch Program is a community initiative committed to reducing the incidence of domestic violence and child abuse in Cecil County. In all areas where Court Watch programs are utilized, the overall goal is the same: To use citizen observers to gather quantifiable data that will be used to bring about change in the system where needed. Court Watch programs are being used successfully throughout the country in rural and urban areas for the purpose of evaluating the Court system and then serving as a catalyst to make necessary changes.
    The Court Watch/Family Violence Coordinating Council implemented a lethality assessment tool that produces on scene screenings by police personnel. Where "high danger" is assessed, calls are immediately made to counselors at the Domestic Violence/Rape Crisis Shelter by police officers to connect the assault victims with DV/RC services. The members of the Council are agency representatives and volunteers who contribute their time and effort to address the many aspects of family violence. This involves diverse activities, from the design and implementation of prevention programs to the coordination of services provided to victims and their families.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/RAPE CRISIS CENTER

    The Domestic Violence/Rape Crisis Center provides short-term crisis intervention services to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Services may include temporary shelter (victims of domestic violence), advocacy, court and hospital accompaniment, crisis counseling, support groups, emergency legal representation and referrals to other appropriate community resources.

CECIL COUNTY HEALTHY MARRIAGE INITIATIVE

    The Cecil County Healthy Marriage Initiative is a federal grant program funded through the federal Administration for Children and Families. The grant began in October 2006 and will continue through September 2011. The federal portion of the grant is $500,000.00. The project focuses on increasing public awareness of the value of healthy marriages. Our mission is to involve the entire community in efforts to increase the number of individuals and couples practicing skills that will help them form and sustain strong, long-lasting, healthy marriages and successful parenthoods. Activities include a media campaign, a marriage summit, marriage skills training, enrichment weekends, divorce reduction sessions, men's and ladies' nights, free college classes, activities at most local high schools, Boys & Girls Clubs and the Perryville Police Outreach Program, celebrations of marriages and many other activities. For additional information,
    please call (410) 996-0108 or go on-line at CecilcountyHMI.com

INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS (IDA)

    The IDA is a matched-savings program in which $3 is given for every $1 saved towards three goals: (1) buying a home, (2) attending secondary education (college or qualified trade program), or (3) starting a business. Qualified applicants must attend an initial financial education seminar and additional seminars and counseling sessions as required by the program. The program targets families at or below 200% of the Federal poverty line.

    Program objectives are:
  • Set realistic short and long term personal, financial and asset goals.
  • Design strategies to achieve their personal, financial and asset goals.
  • Acquire financial skills and knowledge to make informed financial decisions.
  • Develop/improve fiscal self-discipline, self-awareness and patterns of regular savings.
  • Improve self-esteem, self-confidence and assertiveness, particularly with regard to financial and consumer matters.

IN-SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS

    This program falls under the Services Department and places Cecil County Department of Social Service social workers in high risk schools within the county as the first line of defense against abuse, neglect or exploitation of children.

HOMELESS OUTREACH SERVICES IN-TAKE CENTER

    The Homeless Outreach falls under the Services Department; this program reaches out to the homeless population of Cecil County to provide limited emergency assistance and referrals to appropriate community resources. The HOSIC is able to assist with limited housing information and funding for those residents who qualify. The HOSIC may also assist clients with transportation if the situation meets HOSIC requirements (HOSIC does not assist with gas money, cab or local bus fare). HOSIC can also assist with emergency food and assistance purchasing some prescription medications.