Local Management Board; Garrett County Health Department; Garrett County Public Schools; Department of Juvenile Services; Department of Social Services; Department of Human Services; Garrett County Behavioral Health Authority; Division of Rehabilitation Services; Maryland Coalition of Families; Developmental Disabilities Administration; Garrett County Center for Behavioral Health

The Children's Cabinet determined the need to strengthen the system of care for children and youth at the local level through a coordinated approach to interagency case management.  The goal of a coordinated approach is to return or divert children and youth from preventable out-of-home and out-of-state placements through the provision of community-based services.  Local Care Teams serve as the point of access to services for children and youth.  This collaborative group unites representatives of several child-serving agencies to serve families of children struggling with emotional, educational, mental and/or legal issues through interagency discussions and problem solving.

Under Maryland Code (Human Services §8-407) a Local Care Team shall: 

1) Be a forum for: 

    a) families of children with intensive needs to receive assistance with the identification of individual needs and potential resources to meet identified needs

    b) interagency discussions and problem solving for individual child and family needs and systemic needs; 

2) Refer children and families to: 

    a) care management entities when appropriate; and 

    b) available local and community resources; 

3) Provide training and technical assistance to local agency and community partners; 

4) Identify and share resource development needs and communicate with the care management entity, local core service agencies, provider networks, local management boards, and other local care teams in surrounding jurisdictions; and 

5) Discuss a request for a voluntary placement agreement for a child with a developmental disability or a mental illness under § 5-525 of the Family Law Article. 

The goal of the Local Care Team is to serve families of children struggling with emotional, educational, mental and/or legal issues through interagency discussions and problem solving.