FY23: The Baltimore County LCT is known as a valuable resource and receives a steady number of referrals. The LCT has seen an increase in referrals for youth with autism and/or a high level of aggression. Many of these youth are in the hospital at the time of the LCT meeting, are unsafe to return home, and are at risk of a hospital overstay. The Department of Social Services screens out these cases as there is no abuse or neglect. As a result, these youth remain in the hospital as patients, or in the Emergency Department, for weeks to months. Some of these youth have recommendations for Residential Treatment Centers but there are often no vacancies, or they receive an outright rejection. Some of these youth do not receive recommendations for Residential Treatment, yet the parents do not feel safe bringing the youth home due to fear for their own safety, the safety of siblings, or the safety of the youth. In some instances the parents bring the youth home, but the community services are not intense enough to keep the youth safe and they return to the hospital again and again.

• Department of Juvenile Services
• Developmental Disabilities Administration
• Local Core Service Agency
• Local School System
• Local Health Department
• Local Department of Social Services
• Local Management Board
• a parent or parent advocate

a nonvoting representative of the local office of the Division of Rehabilitative Services to represent individuals who are 16 years old and older