Children and Family Services
St. Mary's County Local Management Board (LMB) for Youth & Family Services
Local Management Boards were established during the mid-1990s in each county throughout the state of Maryland. The role of the LMB is to identify priorities and necessary resources within their jurisdiction. The focus of the LMB is to increase local authority to plan, implement, and monitor child and family services. The LMB is made up of representatives from public agencies, non-profit organizations, as well community members. This interagency service system provides a continuum of care that is family and child oriented, emphasizes prevention, early intervention, and community-based services, giving priority to children and families most at risk.
In alignment with the Governor's ENOUGH (Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Groups, and Households) Initiative , St. Mary's County LMB invests in local programs to enhance opportunities for youth and families. The Governor's Office for Children monitors and tracks jurisdictions' data to ensure transparency and allow for improved evaluation of programs. Below are local programs currently funded for Fiscal Year 2025. If interested in joining the LMB click here (https://stmarysmd.granicus.com/boards/forms/199/apply/)
Contact
Amanda Meatyard, LMB Coordinator, (301) 475-4200 ext. 1848, amanda.meatyard@stmaryscountymd.gov
Local Care Team
St. Mary's County Local Care Team (LCT) is a collaborative team made up of representatives from various local agencies to support youth and families who are struggling with a child's intensive emotional and behavioral needs. The LCT promotes family preservation by offering the best local services and resources available within our community. Referrals can be made by caregivers or any of the agencies that families are currently working with directly to the LCT coordinator. Involved agencies include the Department of Justice, Developmental Disabilities Administration, Maryland Coalition of Families, SMCPS, St. Mary’s County Health Department, Department of Social Services, Parent's Place of Maryland, and the Division of Rehabilitative Services.
Contact
Soren Stelari, LCT Coordinator, (301) 475-4200 ext. 1686, soren.stelari@stmaryscountymd.gov
After School Mentoring Program
The St. Mary's County Public Schools offers After School Mentoring Program for Community Schools in Lexington Park. The Mentoring Programs strive to combat poverty by providing students with individual and/or small group interactions with caring adults and lessons focusing on social skills and healthy lifestyles. The core content of the mentoring program will be delivered from the MindUp Curriculm
Contact
Terri Cox, Supervisor of Student Services & Special Services, (301) 475-5511 x32257, tjcox@smcps.org
Nurse Family Partnership
The Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) is an evidence-based, community health program with over 40 years of evidence showing significant improvements in the health and lives of first-time moms and their children living in poverty.” The NFP program encompasses specially trained nurses regularly visiting young, first-time moms-to-be, starting early in the pregnancy and continuing through the child’s second birthday. The expectant moms benefit by receiving the care and support needed to have a healthy pregnancy and improve outcomes for children. New moms develop a close relationship with a nurse who becomes a reliable source for advice to safely care for their child and provide a stable, secure future for their family. Throughout the program, nurses provide moms with confidence and the tools they need to ensure a healthy start for their babies and to envision a life of stability and opportunities for success for both mom and child.
Contact
Jennifer Cass, 301-475-4330, smchd.healthdept@maryland.gov
Building Bridges
Building Bridges is a grassroots, nonprofit community program designed to support at risk youth socially and academically. Their vision is to increase the future success of students by providing enriching learning opportunities with the support of positive mentors. Building Bridges will work with students who are referred to the program by assessing their academic needs. Youths will engage in group activities as well as one-on-one tutoring allowing students to participate in enjoyable learning experiences that foster independent thinking.
Contact
Patrice Campbell, patrice.campbell@buildingbridgescorp.org
Circles SMC
Circles SMC is a local chapter of a national coordinated mentoring program. Circles SMC offers a multi-generational approach to poverty alleviation. Chapters host dinner meetings weekly to support all aspects of each Circle Leader’s life, from practical daily needs (such as reliable transportation, job training, and financial literacy) to lifelong values (such as physical health, emotional wellness, and a sense of community connectedness). Weekly meetings offer childcare with educational programming for children and youth to advance a multi-generation approach to poverty reduction.
Contact
Kimberly Robinson, Circles SMC Coach, hopesomd@gmail.com
The Boys & Girls Club
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maryland- Lexington Park operates an afterschool program designed to help children excel academically, socially and emotionally. Trained professional staff work with children daily to address their needs both individually and collectively. This program is located in the heart of Lexington Park and is open daily from 2-6pm with extended hours for early-dismissal school days. Nationally recognized programs such as Positive Action, Smart Girls and Passport to Manhood are taught to students attending the Lexington Park chapter, to teach students to make good decisions and to live a healthy lifestyle. Our goal is to provide each student with the tools to improve reading and math skills by at least one letter grade, to encourage nutritional and emotional wellness and to foster a sense of community that will help to curb neighborhood crime and violence.
Contact
The Patuxent Partnership
The Patuxent Partnership (TPP) is a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing career awareness and workforce readiness for young people and their parents in the Great Mills area. This initiative will provide students with career exposure, security clearance education, durable skills training, and hands-on work experience to prepare them for high-demand careers, particularly in Navy and Department of Defense (DoD) industries. This program strengthens the local workforce pipeline by equipping students with essential skills and industry experience. We seek funding to expand these efforts and support economic growth in the Great Mills area
Contact
Chris Abell, Director of Workforce Development, The Patuxent Partnership. chris.abell@paxpartnership.org
Interagency Liaison
Mrs. Lisa Galati serves as the St. Mary's County Public Schools child and family advocate on behalf of the St. Mary's County government's local system of care. The Liaison collaborates with and provides technical assistance to the Dept. of Juvenile Services, Dept. of Social Services, Health Dept., local mental health providers, and Juvenile Court. She serves as the Board of Education's Representative on the Local Care Team (LCT) in effort to support disconnected, homeless, and high-risk youth in our community.
Contact
Lisa Galati, SMCPS and Department of Human Services, (301) 475-5511 ext. 32156, lagalati@smcps.org
St. Mary's County Public Schools Programs
After school tutoring and mentoring programs are offered in elementary schools throughout the county. These programs strive to combat ACEs by providing students with individual and/or small group interactions with caring adults and providing lessons that focus on social skills and healthy lifestyles. The core of the mentoring program curriculum will be S.P.A.R.K (Speaking to the Potential, Ability, and Resilience inside every Kid) curriculum. Mentoring sessions are held weekly at each location. Each session will last an hour and a half and will consist of time for a healthy snack; homework assistance; group instruction on social skills, S.P.A.R.K lessons, or other topics; and one-on-one time with students' individual mentors.
Contact
Terri Cox, Supervisor of Student Services & Special Services, (301) 475-5511 x32257
tjcox@smcps.org
Healthy Families Southern Maryland
Healthy Families (HF) is a nationally accredited, research-based, long-term home visiting program. HF supports families starting prenatally and working with the family up until the child's fifth birthday with the goal of encouraging positive parenting skills, reducing family stress, and preventing child abuse and neglect. Services are voluntary, free to the participant, and tailored to each family's individual needs, interests, and priorities. Among other issues, the program staff help families address overall health, developmental issues, homelessness, and hunger. Healthy Families Southern Maryland offers service in both English and Spanish.
Contact
(301) 392-9332
healthyfamilies@center-for-children.org
https://www.center-for-children.org/healthy-families-southern-maryland
Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, Reconnection of Opportunity Youth to Education and Employment (ROYEE)
The ROYEE program will connect youth, ages 16-24 with employment coaching, career assessment, and work opportunities beyond basic retail jobs. This program will also support the value of degree attainment (GED or diploma) by encouraging youth to reengage or remain engaged in their current educational status. By offering a workforce curriculum to the participants, these skillsets will be encouraged, supported and opportunities to implement what they have gleaned from the program will be afforded to the participants.
Contact
yayacenter@tccsmd.org
https://tccsmd.org/workforce-development/job-seeker-services/
Local Care Team (LCT)
St. Mary's County Local Care Team (LCT) promotes family preservation by offering the best local services and resources available within our community. The LCT is a collaborative team made up of representatives from various local agencies (including Depart. of Justice, Developmental Disabilities Administration, Maryland Coalition of Families, SMCPS, Division of Behavioral Health, Depart. of Social Services, Parent's Place of Maryland, Division of Rehabilitative Services) to support youth and families struggling with a child's intensive emotional and behavioral needs. Referrals can be made by any of the agencies families are currently working with or caregivers directly to the LCT coordinator.
Contact
LCT Coordinator, (301) 475-4200 ext. 1853