Anne Arundel County

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Rachael Maconachy
Director

Community Initiatives

The Office of Community Initiatives and Programs meets the specific and dynamic needs of families, children and vulnerable adults in Anne Arundel County. The office administers outreach programs, provides services and recruits volunteers and students to assist the agency. Contact Tanya Steele Clements, Division Director, at (410) 269-4462 or community.programs@maryland.gov.

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[su_spoiler title=”Holiday Sharing Program” tag=”h6″]
Holiday Sharing matches donors to seniors and/or families in need during Thanksgiving & Christmas. Donors shop for food, clothing, and toys for the holiday and personally deliver to the household. Volunteers staff the office from the end of September until January 1st. This program has been in operation for 44 years at DSS. For questions please contact us at 410-269-4462 or HolidaySharing.aacodss@maryland.gov. To become a monetary donor, please use the “Donate” button below

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[su_spoiler title=”Back-To-School Donor Program” tag=”h6″]
The excitement for children to return to school this year will be wonderful for so many students!! New backpacks, notebooks, and school supplies!

Share that memory by assisting a child who needs help getting ready for the next school year. For more than 30 years we have assisted elementary school children in low income families start the school year with the necessary supplies to be successful in school.

Here’s how the program works:

• Donors (individuals, businesses, churches, schools, organizations, and groups) are matched with children in need of school supplies and are provided a standardized list of the required supplies. The donors purchase supplies and backpacks and deliver them to the Counseling Office at the child’s elementary school the 2nd week in August.
• On average, school supplies cost between $50 and $75, depending upon the child’s grade in school.

It’s easy to help! Simply fill out the Back to School Donor Form below and submit it to us. Beginning in July, we’ll e-mail you the name of a child (ren) you can help. Please check your SPAM filter for correspondence. For more information, contact the Back to School Program office at 410-269-4462 or community.programs@maryland.gov.

This is a joint program between the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services and the Anne Arundel County Public Schools. The program matches donors with children in elementary schools who are in need of school supplies and backpacks. Donors shop and deliver the supplies to the schools in the County. Volunteers staff the office from July-August.

To become a monetary donor, please click on the “Donate” button below. To purchase backpacks and school supplies for a student or mail in a check, please fill out the form below.

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[su_spoiler title=”Generous Juror Program” tag=”h6″]
This program creates a lay fund to support activities that benefit foster children in the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services and the Court Appointed Special Advocates Program (CASA). Expenditures from this fund are only for items and services not covered under any current Federal, State or County budgets. Volunteers are needed to talk to the jurors at the Circuit Court in Annapolis, Tuesdays and Thursdays – 9:00 am – 9:30 am.
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[su_spoiler title=”Homeless Services” tag=”h6″]
Under the homeless services is the Homeless Coordinator. The Homeless Coordinator works closely with the homeless service providers and shelters in the county and manages the homeless database (Homeless Management Information System). Homeless services include Anne Arundel County’s Street Outreach Team, Housing Case Management, and Coordinated Entry for Emergency Shelter. Homeless services also include the coordination of the Annual Homeless Point In Time Survey and the Annual Homeless Assessment Report.

If you are currently experiencing homelessness and need resources or services you can contact the Coordinated Entry Screening line Monday – Friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm at 410-417-7260.

Please contact Justin Bieler at 443-534-2079 or justin.bieler@maryland.gov for more information
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Volunteer Mentors are matched with at-risk youth in the Child Welfare Program. Mentors are trained to work one-on-one and in-group settings with children in a structured year-long relationship. The mentors work as part of a team with our social workers. The mentors act as positive role models providing guidance and support. Male mentors are especially needed. Contact community.programs@maryland.gov
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[su_spoiler title=”Representative Payee Program” tag=”h6″]
The Representative Payee Program provides banking and bill payment services to physically and/or mentally impaired Anne Arundel County adult residents who are not fully capable of managing their limited income retirement/social security checks. Clients must be able to direct the use of their funds and are actively engaged in spending decisions. Trained Representative Payee volunteers who have completed a thorough application and background check process commit to meeting with their clients on a monthly basis. There is no fee for this service.

Representative Payee Advisory Board: The Advisory Board meets on the second Tuesday the month in January, April, July and October at 10 a.m. Please call 410-269-4460 for the location. Portions of this meeting will be held in closed session.

Referrals to this program are made by various county agency social workers or by contacting a Maryland Access Point (MAP) representative at 410-222-4257.

Volunteer Description:
The Representative Payee Program seeks volunteers to provided banking and bill payment services to physically and/or mentally impaired Anne Arundel County adult residents who are not fully capable of managing their limited income retirement/social security checks. Volunteer Representative Payees complete a thorough application process including a state and FBI background check and training. Volunteers are reimbursed for their travel expenses.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer Representative Payee, please call 410-269-4460.
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[su_spoiler title=”Volunteers/Students” tag=”h6″]
Volunteers are used throughout the agency assisting units and aiding programs. The agency places 20-25 students each year. These students are completing a field placement in social work for school credit. Students may be from a community college, college or graduate school level.
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Job Announcements

In-Home Interventionist:

https://www.indeed.com/job/-home-interventionlist-64c82f42770f2a68

Looking for a NEW workplace this year?

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Contact Information