Carroll County, MD Carroll 101, 16 Jul 2021

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From YouTube: Carroll 101- Citizen Services with Celene Steckel

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Carroll County Government
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Hello and welcome- I am here to present today on the carroll county department of citizen services,.

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And this is carol 101, I'm celine steckel, the director of the department of carroll county.

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Government's citizen services, I wanted to give you an overview of who we are, I think, of department.

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Of citizen services as three core service areas that we provide to the citizens in carroll, county.

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One is our bureau of aging and disabilities under the direction of gina valentine.

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Another core area is our bureau of housing and community development under the direction of.

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Danielle yates and then our local management board under the direction of gabby zalea.

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Our mission is really to provide person-centered services through innovative community engagement.

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And connect the community to resources that promote dignity, independence and an enhanced.

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Quality of life, what does this really mean? You may think of us as really the compassionate arm.

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Of the county excuse me: we meet people where they are and we empower them to develop the skills.

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To be self-sufficient or to help them access, resources needed to live in the least restrictive.

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Environment to obtain housing as they age and still be contributing members to our community.

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We do this across the lifespan. For example, you may have a loved one that was recently.

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Hospitalized after a fall and your loved one has now gone into rehab to recuperate from that fall.

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You've talked with the social work team at the rehab. You've talked with.

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Care providers and you understand that your loved one is not going to have the same ability that.

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They did before they had the the fall now you're worried, you're wondering how can I.

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Bring this loved one home? Well, if you contact our offices specifically for this case, the.

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Bureau of aging and disabilities. We have maryland access point specialists there that can help you.

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Walk through that process, because in most cases we know that people want to remain.

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At their home as they age, and we can help you with an options counseling session to help you identify.

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What services exist right here in carroll county to keep that loved one at home, where.

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They want to be which ultimately, I'm sure is your goal as well. The department of citizen.

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Services is funded through several different funding streams. We access a lot of grants.

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And also pass-through funding from federal funding, state funding and we also get support from our.

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Local general fund dollars here with carroll county government. How do we do what we do and the.

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Services that we provide I've already talked about our three core agencies within the department.

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But we cannot do what we do without the community boards and commissions that we rely on to advise.

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Us on the needs in our community, as well as those community partnerships with local non-profits.

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Faith-Based organizations and many others that help us to support everyone in this community.

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The bureau of aging and disabilities is dedicated to providing the highest quality of services.

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Programs and assistance to promote choice, dignity, independence for older adults, adults.

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With disabilities veterans and those who care for them, we serve primarily older adults, aged 60.

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Plus and individuals with disabilities of any age in carroll county, this slide represents just.

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A few of the many programs that are housed within the bureau of aging and disabilities.

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This slide is not a comprehensive list of the services, but I do want to highlight a few of.

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The services that are listed on here, one is our state health insurance assistance program.

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Many of you hear the term medicare you're familiar with what that is, but you're not familiar with the.

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Inter-Workings of medicare and how it really rolls out when you're looking for insurance for yourself.

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Or a loved one who's aging and what things are covered? We have a medicare counseling program.

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With long tenure trained volunteers and also a paid staff through grant funding with from.

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From the federal and state government- and they will assist you with questions about medicare.

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Medigap hmos long-term care insurance, qualified medicare beneficiaries and pharmacy assistants.

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We also have our long-term care ombudsman program, an elder which includes our elder abuse, awareness.

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Program, this program is mandated under the older americans act and it provides very unique.

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Advocacy services for the most vulnerable citizens living in our long-term care and assisted living.

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Facilities throughout carroll county, we have two ombudsmen that go out into the facilities they.

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Visit these facilities, identifying, investigating, documenting and resolving any complaints.

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That residents of those facilities may have during this time they also promote resident rights and.

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Ensure that our residents and our facilities are attaining the highest quality of life possible for.

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Them and we look to empower these consumers with information to navigate the long-term care system.

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Our senior community centers are another really big piece of the bureau of aging disabilities.

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These are one of our most forward-facing facilities throughout carroll county. We have.

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Many people that come through the doors of our of our centers, the five centers offer educational.

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Social, recreational, fitness, health, nutritional informational opportunities for seniors age, 60.

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Plus, we also offer congregate meals to promote nutrition, but we also do this to promote.

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Socialization because we serve these meals in a congregate setting allowing people to talk with.

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Each other and have interaction, especially those that don't have that ability or have anyone else.

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That they're living with at their home, we also partner with sister agencies across the county.

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To provide classes, health screenings, disease, self-management programs, nutrition, education and.

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Also hire certified fitness instructors, as well as providing volunteer opportunities for older adults.

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Our senior centers are located in five points across the county. Mount airy, north carol, south.

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Carol, tawneytown and westminster, even though we have five centers that offer similar types.

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Of programming each center has its own dynamic. We may have one member that has joined at one.

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Location which allows them to visit any of our senior centers across the county and they may go.

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To one class on a monday at one center, but then choose to go to another option at a different.

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Center later in the week, because they enjoy the different dynamics offered at each at each center,.

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We also offer signature events, so some of those include world elder abuse awareness day.

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Our seniors on the go expo, and we also through the bureau of aging disabilities, have another.

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Very important tool in our pocket- and that is our commission on aging and disabilities. The.

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Commission on aging and disabilities mission is to represent the bureau of aging and disabilities.

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And to advocate for the needs of carroll county's, older adults, individuals with disabilities.

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And veterans to ensure they receive the highest level of service assistance and programs.

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One of the best pieces of the commission is that we have representation from all the different.

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Municipalities on the commission, as well as the different populations of older adults and people.

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With disabilities and veterans throughout the county, and with that representation they.

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Bring back and are the liaison to their community information to us so that we better understand the.

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Needs of carroll county citizens and we we base our program designs and any opportunities we have.

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For increasing services on the reports back from the commission, we also have a veterans services.

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Program, that's located within the bureau of aging and disabilities. Their mission is dedicated to.

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Promoting the interest and welfare of veterans who have served in the armed forces of the united.

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States of america, their family members and survivors. The program focuses on enhancing.

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The veterans, quality of life and improving outcomes through advocacy claims assistance.

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Education, counseling and facilitating access to other appropriate human services programs. Our.

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Veterans services program provides many different services. I want to highlight a few of those. We do.

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Have on-site certified veterans service officers who can assist with preparing and submitting.

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Pension and benefit claims to write directly into the veterans benefit administration system. We also.

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Have a carroll county veterans shuttle program that will transport our veterans to locations.

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With va medical clinics outside of carroll county at no charge and the caregiver can accompany their.

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Loved ones as well, we also have the veterans assistance program for those at risk of.

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Homelessness- and we also have a veterans advisory council, another very important tool in our toolbox.

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When working with our citizens, the veterans advisory council provides support to our veterans.

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Programs and services by advocating for the needs of our veterans in the community, one.

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Other piece that we do is we assist veterans in obtaining their military discharge or their dd214.

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Which many of you know is the document you must have in order to start the process to.

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Access benefits through the system and as of may of 2020, our veterans services program of carroll.

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County has submitted over 3 100 claims to assist over 1400 veterans and their family members in.

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Obtaining more than 35 million dollars in benefits since the inception of our program in 2013.

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I want to move on now to our bureau of housing and community development.

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The housing community development is our arm of our public housing authority for carroll county.

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We administer our housing choice, voucher program in compliance with hud's, section 8 regulations.

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And federal state and local, fair housing laws and the jurisdiction of our public housing.

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Authority is carroll county other than the city of westminster, the city of westminster houses, their.

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Own public housing authority, the mission of the bureau of housing and community development is to.

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Promote adequate and affordable housing, economic opportunity and a suitable living environment.

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Free from discrimination to eligible low and moderately low-income persons who live or work.

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In carroll county to encourage self-sufficiency among participating families while managing their.

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Resources, so our housing choice, voucher program, consists of 773 tenant-based housing choice.

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Vouchers that consist of 524, regular housing, choice, vouchers and 249 specialized vouchers.

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They're non-elderly disabled vouchers, family unification, vouchers.

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Veterans affairs, supportive housing vouchers and mainstream vouchers. These all support.

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Low-Income families, the elderly disabled, to be able to afford decent, safe and sanitary housing.

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In the private market, since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or the individual.

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Participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and.

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Apartments, whatever they need or want to fit their need. Family self-sufficiency program is another.

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Very important program within our housing bureau we have this program, is better known.

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As thrive and it allows hud assisted families to increase their earned income and reduce dependency.

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On welfare assistance and also rental subsidies, ultimately, this helps people leave.

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Our section 8 voucher, our hud voucher program and to be self-sufficient and purchase their own homes.

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They do this by us offering multiple services that we coordinate through this program and also.

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For each individual we have an interest-bearing escrow account. That's established through our.

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Public housing authority for the participating family, which then can be allocated back after.

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They've come completed their time in the program to use as a down payment for their own home.

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Which is such a successful and rewarding feeling? So we also have our livability.

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Program where we do our livability enforcement, so our housing quality standard inspector handles all.

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Livability matters for the county and is required to enforce chapter 171 of our livability code.

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Under carroll county's code- and we work very closely with permits and.

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Inspections to enforce this and rely on their expertise regarding the code as well.

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When I talk about our partnership and collaboration, the circle of caring.

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Homelessness board is where the compassionate arm of citizen services is fully realized.

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The vision of the circle of caring is one community, a home for all.

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And the mission statement is to empower all citizens of carroll county to be self-sufficient.

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Have stable housing and a safe, healthy life by maximizing community collaboration.

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The circle of caring homelessness board is where all the partners come together.

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Our partner agencies, consisting of nonprofit providers, faith-based organizations, healthcare.

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Providers, soup, kitchens and pantries education providers, those with lived homeless experience.

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And concerned citizens- and everyone comes together for this common mission- the circle of caring.

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Homelessness board was originally designed by the board of carroll county commissioners in 1997.

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As a voluntary board of concerned citizens, the circle of caring works to develop, communicate.

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And support strategies that respond to the needs of persons who are homeless or at risk of.

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Homelessness in carroll county maryland. In short, our purpose is to work together and to prevent.

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And end homelessness. There is also an executive arm of the circle of caring. That is tasked with.

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Putting to action the recommendations of the circle- and this is done in part- with funding.

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Through the continuum of care, homeless assistance, the department of citizen services serves as the.

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Collaborative applicant to the state of maryland, for funds to plan for and address the need for.

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Homeless, services in our geographical area, we do this through three different projects currently.

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The shelter plus care project, permanent supportive housing and coordinated entry, the homeless.

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Management information system plays a large role in our application for the continuum funding.

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This is where we maintain the homeless management, information system and data, and this is where.

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All of our allied agencies enter their data on the services they're, providing to our homeless.

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Individuals throughout the county that includes hsp our shelter provider for the county, the health.

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Department, the bureau of aging disabilities, access carroll and several other partners. This data is.

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Required in order for us to have funding through the continuum of care and is provided to the state.

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And federal government who monitors our data to ensure that we are performing in our program areas.

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Another piece of the department of citizen services is our local management board. This.

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Kind of wraps us full circle, because this is where our children's service providers come into play.

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Our local management board builds and facilitates partnerships throughout the county to create.

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An effective system of services supports and opportunities to improve the quality of life.

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For all children, youth and families in carroll county- and it also serves as the coordinating.

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Entity for carroll, county's, local care team, the local management board is responsible for.

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Building and supporting this infrastructure for children services throughout the county.

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This slide contains the different programs developed by carroll county's, local management.

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Board the different programs are supported through funding received from the governor's office of.

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Crime prevention, youth and victim services, as you can see, we all work collaboratively.

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With our local nonprofits to develop services for areas of need, the local management board is cast.

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With oversight and administration of our local care team, the local care team is designated by.

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The children's cabinet to be the central point for coordinated case management and as a point.

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Of access to services for children and youth, the mission of the local care team is to provide local.

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Community-Based resource connections and supports for at-risk youth and in carroll county, the local.

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Care team requires local agencies to attend all local care team meetings and to be represented by.

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Staff of those agencies who can actually commit those resources- this was a piece that was found.

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To be missing in the past- and this has been a very effective resource for our local families,.

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That have really had some crisis situations where they had worked with multiple providers.

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But still had had not had success. This is a way to bring all of those providers to the table with.

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The family and address how that can be better how their care and services can be better facilitated.

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To meet their needs and on a collaborative basis and really work through that and the follow-up to.

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Make sure each agency is doing what they committed to do and then our families can have success.

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The department has several special projects that we're working on this list is just a select few.

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That I wanted to highlight one of the biggest and most exciting pieces is that next year,.

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In 2022 we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the bureau of aging and disabilities. We also.

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Are working with our commission on aging and disabilities with their subcommittee called carol.

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Together, which is an aging-in-place subcommittee to work to obtain an age-friendly community.

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Designation, which is through aarp for carroll county and as we look forward to that development.

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We will be reaching out to the community and some of you to assist and help us get that designation.

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Because it is a community collaboration to do that, we also have a special project.

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Within carroll county's bureau of housing to develop hud-certified housing, counseling programs.

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Within carroll county, specifically within our bureau of housing,.

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Currently, in carroll county, there is no certified housing counseling program through hud.

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In the county, so we want to make sure that that resource is here and hope to have that to you.

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Within the next year, we also have a special project through the local management board,.

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To develop strategies to incorporate intentional efforts that address and reduce race, equity issues.

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And reduce adverse childhood experiences through trauma-informed practices, our continued care.

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Family shelter, relocation project is another special project where we're.

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Looking to identify and acquire a space to relocate our current homeless, family, shelter.

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So what does all of this mean to you right? I've talked about a lot of different services.

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A lot of different programs that we offer, but what does this really mean.

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At the end of the day, the department of citizen services is always working behind the scenes.

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To meet the needs of our county's most at risk individuals at the leadership level.

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We're identifying gaps seeking partnerships convening work groups to address those gaps.

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And we also seek out potential funding or advocating for system changes.

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To allow the needed services in our area at the boots on the ground level, with our staff, they.

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Are directly providing services and resources and resource connections to people across the lifespan.

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We also have our staff empowering people to be contributing members.

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Of their own community by promoting dignity, independence and enhanced quality of life.

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That's the end of my presentation: if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

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You can also reach out our contact. Information is on the screen to gina, valentine or danielle yates.

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Or myself directly, I hope you've enjoyed this presentation and we hope to work with you soon.

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