Local Children's Board
9830 Patuxent Woods Drive
Columbia, MD 21046
United States
Mission
To improve the lives of all children, youth and families in Howard County by convening community stakeholders and aligning resources for measurable impact.
I N C L U S I O N
The LCB advocates and supports all members of the Howard County community regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disability and immigration status.
Strategic Priorities
Title
Affordable and Quality Education and Training
Content
Over the next five years, Howard County's Office of the Local Children’s Board is focusing on affordable and quality education and training. We will invest in setting children and youth on a life-long path to success by working to improve early education access and opportunities, decreasing rates of chronic absenteeism and increasing access to job training.
Title
Increase Inclusiveness, Awareness and Coordination of Resources to Meet the Needs of Each Community
Content
Howard County is a caring community that is committed to making its resources available to all residents. These connections are difficult to make for some families with access challenges, even for the most basic needs. By increasing awareness of resources for food, housing and healthcare within hard-to-reach communities, we can support families’ efforts to increase their self-sufficiency and financial stability through education, training and affordable, quality childcare.
Title
Access to Affordable and Quality Behavioral Health Care
Content
Behavioral health care for all residents in Howard County is a major focus for the county. Many behavioral health indicators in Howard County are trending in the wrong direction. With this priority, the HCLCB will reduce youth rates of hopelessness and suicidal ideation while addressing the effects of intergenerational traumas by increasing access to mental health services.
Title
Howard County Schools to Offer Enhanced Mental Health Services
Content
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has announced that every student in Howard County Public Schools will have access to mental health services for at least the next two years. Howard County has committed $2.1 million to expand a school-based mental health program to all 77 public schools and to subsidize mental health resources in the community for vulnerable youth. Read more at https://www.howardcountymd.gov/News042622b.
Title
County Announces $2 Million HoCo STRIVES Investment to Close Achievement Gap
Content
In June 2022, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced a $2 million investment in support services for students and families to help close the achievement gap. The funding will support HoCo STRIVES (Strategies to Reach an Inclusive Vision and Equitable Solutions), which is an umbrella for the many initiatives in place to address the achievement gap, and now to address learning loss brought on by the pandemic. Read more at https://www.howardcountymd.gov/News062122.
Howard County Community Plan for Children, Youth and Families
Access to Opportunity in Howard County: Making the Case for Equity
Programs & Resources
Title
Local Care Team
Content
The Local Care Team provides a forum for families of children and youth with intensive needs to access information on available community resources and services. The team is comprised of representatives from the major child serving agencies, as well as a parent advocate. The group reviews information about the child/youth and then works together with the family to identify programs and services that can best assist child and family needs (serving youth ages three to 21).
If you are interested in getting connected to the Local Care Team please complete a referral here.
If you have questions or need assistance completing a referral please contact Mary Ndukwe at 410-313-6552 (voice/relay) or mndukwe@howardcountymd.gov.
Title
Voices for Change
Content
Voices4Change is a diverse group of youth who work towards empowering young people to take action and create positive change in Howard County.
For more information, contact Triston Cooper by phone at 410-313-6549 (voice/relay) or email tcooper@howardcountymd.gov
Title
Getting Ahead
Content
Getting Ahead, in a “just-gettin’-by world,” is a 16-session curriculum that helps individuals in poverty build their resources for a more prosperous life for themselves, their families and their communities. Getting Ahead provides the foundation for understanding the root causes of poverty and focuses on resources needed to rise above it.
Contact: Terrance Stroman III at 410-313-6553 (voice/relay) or tstroman@howardcountymd.gov
Title
R-Rules
Content
R-RULES is a robust curriculum of project development and management, exchanges with the community, and individual academic and career plans that gets students ready for leadership in the workplace and in life.
Contact: Contact: Terrance Stroman III at 410-313-6553 (voice/relay) or tstroman@howardcountymd.gov
Title
Howard County Youth Behavioral Health Road Map
Content
Learn where your child is on the road to health and well-being and what resources are available in Howard County for you and your child. Available below in English and Spanish, the behavioral road map is a resource for families, health practitioners, school-based professionals, service providers, and other affiliates to provide accessible and comprehensive information to better navigate youth behavioral health supports in Howard County.
DCRS Information/Event Request Form
Thank you for your interest in the Department of Community Resources and Services participating in and/or speaking at your event. To make a request, please complete and submit the following form at least two weeks prior to the event, and allow five business days for decisions to be made.
The Howard County Local Children's Board is comprised of public and private members working collaboratively to ensure a strong continuum of services for families and children in our community. Also known as the Local Management Board, there is a functioning board in each of the 24 jurisdictions in Maryland. We work in partnership with the Governor's Office for Children to ensure children grow up healthy, secure and successful.
