County Officials, LT, Governor Announces $1.2 Million State Grant For Children and Families

mh/sri.pr 97-253 Contact: Mary Anderson, 301-217-1702

COUNTY OFFICIALS, LT. GOVERNOR
ANNOUNCE $1.2 MILLION STATE GRANT
FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES For Immediate Release: August 6, 1997

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan was joined today by State and
County officials, and members of the Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families
to announce that the County is receiving $1.2 million in state incentive funding for
implementation of the Systems Reform Initiative (SRI). Maryland's SRI, adopted by
Montgomery County in 1993, strengthens local efforts to integrate services to children and
families. Working with local management boards, such as Montgomery County's
Collaboration Council, SRI encourages interagency coordination of service delivery that
provides family-focused, community-based services that return children from out-of-state
placements.
"We are pleased to receive State funds which allow us to provide the best services
possible for the children and families of our community," said Duncan. "With more than
200,000 children under the age of 18 in the County, it is critical that we make it a priority to
help those most in need."
Envisioned as a way to provide a greater scope of services for children and families,
and to address broad systemic issues, SRI currently serves two populations. Family
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COUNTY RECEIVES SRI STATE GRANT 2-2-2-2

Preservation Services targets children who may have otherwise entered the foster care system
and Return/Divert Services provides for the return and diversion of local children from out-of-
state placements at treatment facilities.
Duncan was joined in the announcement by Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy
Townsend; County Council President Marilyn J. Praisner; Dr. Linda Thompson, special
secretary for the Governor's Office for Children, Youth and Families; Montgomery County
Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Paul Vance; Mike Haris, area director, Maryland
Department of Juvenile Justice; and Lorraine Rogstad and Charles L.Short, co-chairs of the
Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families.
"Governor Glendening and I have high expectations for how state and local
governments can work together to improve the well-being of our children," said Lt. Governor
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. "We are extremely pleased that Montgomery County has
succeeded at pursuing effective interventions that meet the needs of our children and families.
With this state grant, Montgomery County will make investments that will have a long-term
impact on the lives of its children."
"The County has been in the forefront in implementing Maryland's System Reform
Initiative, said County Council President Marilyn J. Praisner. "A key element of SRI is the
ability to generate and use savings for the expansion of need community resources for
children and families. I am pleased that our efforts working with the Collaboration Council
and the State have finally borne fruit and I am excited by this community-wide approach for
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COUNTY RECEIVES SRI STATE GRANT 2-2-2-2

programs that will ultimately benefit both the child and the entire family."
Other jurisdictions receiving incentive funds from the State are Anne Arundel,
Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Garrett, Harford, Kent, Prince George's, Queen Anne's and Talbot
counties; and Baltimore City.
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