[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6259239,"mediaKeyId","3142578-5b4cc9106360919ad59c79eada922086","parentId",3142578,"title","HHS committee adjusts Montgomery Cares reimbursement and approves one-time clinic support for American Diversity Group","audioSeconds",660,"startMs",8573000,"endMs",9233000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3142578-5b4cc9106360919ad59c79eada922086&start=8573&end=9233","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3142578-5b4cc9106360919ad59c79eada922086/thumbnail_8573000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6259239/Montgomery-County/Maryland/HHS-committee-adjusts-Montgomery-Cares-reimbursement-and-approves-one-time-clinic-support-for-American-Diversity-Group","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259239-1485d66edb2e8449ce642dd44aad665c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776168039&Signature=MJjFnJS7LYPzDoO8kuEvr~YPBH9eHrE4JVOYaIjCRPgHs9a-HtjFvSJ27RiZurhsBEENZLPmErNnrDwVlvRR3VQXNGGQaUEIWE8kIcVNn~WcKEpEydrl5wHtbiANdplcI-N85q8ubdn7xkyScp9PolxCk67jWFmrkJxvtfIEZPdJwzmrpuhA2-E5le-sP0jt4bEFDQgb~tAoYO7PAhbqjaEZsyUcwJxx-I0P-GUzawxY84IqEJ-GEGY3aPB7SW1-7yV4GnSwmCmBWbomvZJ5-rqXV5lU2NQVK5-OuY3tQPut2fvpsTJBjYjEs~TlCn38PoLZz5jWF5HT1allZAYQWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery County, MD","date","2025-04-29T05:20:55.857Z","article","The Health and Human Services Committee voted to revise the county executive's Montgomery Cares primary-care reimbursement recommendation and approved a one-time contract to support the American Diversity Group (ADG) free medical clinic serving East County and other areas.

Council staff recommended a modest adjustment to the county executive's Montgomery Cares request: set FY26 primary-care encounters at 77,000 (down 1,000 from the executive's request of 78,000) while increasing the per-encounter reimbursement so the total recommended payment per encounter would be $113.36 inclusive of an indirect administrative fee. The change reduced the immediate net increase requested by approximately $12,751 relative to the executive's draft. Department staff noted they believed 78,000 encounters was feasible and cautioned that approving 77,000 could prompt a supplemental request if utilization reached the higher level; council members said a slightly higher allowance could be prudent given pending changes at higher levels of government. The committee approved the revised number with a minor reallocation (specialty care reduction of $74,300 also agreed to by the committee) and asked staff to monitor utilization and return if supplemental funding is required.

Separately, the committee considered a one-time contract request to support the American Diversity Group (ADG) free medical clinic in East County. ADG had provided details about its 2024 activity (944 patients served that year across generalist and specialty referral activity, weekend hours, and multilingual capacity) and described volunteers and partnerships that supplement clinic capacity. Councilmember Mink, who visited ADG, described the clinic as a trusted community resource that provides weekend hours, transportation for patients countywide, and in-person language capacity in multiple languages (Spanish and several South Asian languages were noted).

Committee members asked how ADG fits into the county's broader safety-net system and requested evaluation requirements as part of any contract. DHHS said it would include performance measures and patient-satisfaction metrics in a one-time funding contract and that ADG refers patients to Montgomery Cares clinics and other county programs when appropriate. Council staff recommended the item as a possible reduction given overlapping services, but the committee voted to recommend one-time funding for ADG, 2 to 1, with the minority member expressing concern about adding a new, ongoing contract line amid a tight budget. The majority emphasized ADG's weekend hours, multilingual staffing and partnership role with hospitals and county clinics.

The committee instructed DHHS to include contract reporting requirements (patient demographics, referral pathways, patient satisfaction and service volume) and to clarify how ADG's services expand county capacity rather than duplicate existing clinics.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Apr. 28, 2025 - HHS Committee Worksession","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved a revised Montgomery Cares primary-care reimbursement recommendation and voted 2-1 to recommend one-time county funding to the American Diversity Group clinic in East County while asking for evaluation metrics and clearer placement of the new contract in the county's safety-net ecosystem.","taxTitle","Montgomery County, Maryland","taxId",3351,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6259244,"Council committee backs expanded SHARP and homelessness funding as evictions rise",2032,4253000,6285000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3142578-5b4cc9106360919ad59c79eada922086&start=4253&end=6285","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3142578-5b4cc9106360919ad59c79eada922086/thumbnail_4253000.jpg","/articles/6259244/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Council-committee-backs-expanded-SHARP-and-homelessness-funding-as-evictions-rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259244-73e2852c6271759b342c7d04ec7d4016/orig.mp4?Expires=1776168039&Signature=aZ6srQ~NB7yNvOvgDAijz82jg1uV14kZxLJvTjQy7SC2e6ZAL~9qv7b21WJWQtqt6VmuB5KzzQvj7RmPoK~qMC3xnKgVCZeJ3hh2F6NeGnx9MH3dtc-Fc7z5JUVG4EXWs9gTkCJArxCfbUFN5xsyx3CCEGhwhMBY4SiV9W6IWNnbwiXk0qqbQGZQ96txk-umLmVJBcRHb8m4KN9gKTiiq128UvLsNrjkhHHdJkRDZmmqjr3bzTXPkCX0503W6-UFfboEWBy9HYWWnAm6Szx5wBIcU9vai2AjtiSlm8iosxUWgUC2o0N09XcHCPf~isSScIfnjzGTZPAhgofgzfmpaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montgomery County Health and Human Services Committee recommended county-executive funding changes meant to expand housing stabilization and reduce reliance on motel sheltering after Department of Health and Human Services (SEF) staff presented eviction and shelter data showing rising writs and an increase in family use of motels.

Chief Christine Hong and SEF staff reported a near-doubling in executed evictions between FY22 and year-to-date FY25 and said writs received are increasing even though the sheriff's office is able to execute only a portion of writs. Chief Hong described coordinated outreach to households that receive eviction notices and credited partnerships with the sheriff's office and nonprofits for preventing many evictions. Councilmembers and the chief discussed the challenge of providing proactive assistance before a writ or formal notice is filed; Councilmember Lukey and others asked whether the county could do more for residents who seek help earlier.

The county executive's FY26 recommendations for SEF included a major expansion of the Short Term Housing and Resolution Program (SHARP): a request of $6,900,000 for up to 12 months of rental assistance and navigation services to help households quickly resolve housing crises. County staff explained SHARP is estimated to cost about $33,291 annually per family if the program pays 100% of base rent; with the FY26 request the county expects to support roughly 2,208 families over the year under the recommended funding scenario. SEF reported that, after a January start, SHARP housed 84 families through late April (about 8 families per week) and that SHARP participants have a lower family recidivism rate than emergency interventions (families' return rate about 3% versus 22% for individuals in some SHARP pilots).

Committee members also reviewed other recommended increases that sustain earlier supplemental appropriations: $2.95 million to annualize eviction prevention and rental-assistance (housing stabilization) supports, $2.0 million for rapid rehousing to account for rising rents and longer average lengths of stay (average admitted household length ~460 days), and $1.2 million to replace ARPA funding for 39 households in the Housing Initiative Program (permanent supportive housing). Council staff recommended concurrence with the county executive on these items; the committee approved them without objection.

SEF briefed the committee on motel oversight and community partner roles. SEF contracts with a small number of hotels for family overflow shelter; Chief Hong and contract manager Denise Anderson described site visits and issue-resolution processes but acknowledged they lacked a centralized dashboard tracking complaints, resolutions and contract closeouts. Councilmember Sales asked SEF to provide a dashboard of outstanding issues and follow-ups for motel contracts; SEF agreed to produce one.

Chief Hong and members emphasized the fiscal rationale: motel shelter costs are high and the county's strategy is to house families faster than they enter the system (outpace inflow to reach a functional zero), which in turn reduces costly motel spending. Councilmembers and the chief also highlighted the need for longer-term planning, regional coordination and a strategic update to the county's homelessness plan to reflect current increases in need.","The HHS committee supported the county executive's FY26 package to expand the Short Term Housing and Resolution Program (SHARP), eviction prevention services and other homelessness interventions after hearing data showing rising writs and increasing motel use for family shelter.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6259249,"DHHS outlines FY26 Children, Youth and Families priorities: youth safety, kinship expansion and eligibility gains",439,796000,1235000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3142578-5b4cc9106360919ad59c79eada922086&start=796&end=1235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3142578-5b4cc9106360919ad59c79eada922086/thumbnail_796000.jpg","/articles/6259249/Montgomery-County/Maryland/DHHS-outlines-FY26-Children-Youth-and-Families-priorities-youth-safety-kinship-expansion-and-eligibility-gains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259249-d604adc0f3c2184306f3daa74802dc29/orig.mp4?Expires=1776168039&Signature=UgBl8V-TSmQZlbYe1DyaSgMyat4kFaeQUjyXMeen3ZZZJfCVmAzsFrVvuTwSZgWjBM-S3Ede1CnsCmIlmSV12KA7lPrFBVEq-JQkp7DhkBGSXX24WiyDX8gu0CjXNJXR5e9V2cEBTg-jcGGL-T2kGlg549LnJFfUZNeJIB5TvJBZC5~ZL-8O-CnmDhx1nmLpoPYetsJ4DLwLZTq2nfPL-r2F15MEY8AN~HjEarJLWK23NViaSmP1szd5B676cYxvei8mJSv1j~A2HXb6FeOWvfNNKKXB~ijG5zpnPQeaQSt10~SLz2Jfr8kI5BdQ3TW3N01jvdsyZZFclar4VpQTBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) leaders briefed the Health and Human Services Committee on FY26 recommendations and program changes across Children, Youth and Families (CYF), highlighting a youth safety initiative, progress in child welfare permanency, and improvements in eligibility and enrollment systems.

DHHS Director Dr. James Bridgers and Acting Chief Lori Garibay Aquino described CYF's two operational buckets: school- and community-based services (positive youth development, early childhood, school-based services) and social services (child welfare, eligibility and support services). The county executive recommended an approximately $12.9 million (10.2%) increase for the whole service area; the packet shows staff increases and two recommended reductions tied to leveraging state contracts instead of county funds.

On youth safety, DHHS emphasized four priorities from its review: create a unified data source or interoperable dashboard, implement interagency client coordination, catalog and publish safe spaces for youth, and consider a youth resiliency steering committee or dedicated office. Dr. Bridgers and others said data-sharing and confidentiality are major constraints that must be addressed through long-term interagency agreements.

Child welfare staff reported several measured gains in FY24'FY25: an increase in permanency outcomes (guardianship/adoption), 33 adoptions finalized in FY25, and a substantial rise in kinship-home approvals (from 10 to 39 newly approved kinship homes). Child Welfare reported that 51 kinship homes are currently hosting 99 youth and that kinship placements now account for roughly half of youth placements in out-of-home care. Staff discussed a fellowship partnership with the University of Shady Grove that provided stipends (approximately $20,000 per year per fellow) and yielded several hires.

Child Welfare aims to raise kinship placements from 25% to 50% over five years and to increase permanency through reunification, adoption and guardianship within 24 months of entry from 30% to 50%.

Office of Eligibility and Support Services (OESS) staff described compliance improvements after pandemic-era disruptions: Maryland's application processing and redetermination timeliness have improved, and the state now ranks high in compliance. OESS highlighted the community digital platform with more than 500 participants and a Community Connect portal that consolidates programs including Care for Kids and Senior Dental. OESS described plans to expand outreach, improve application processing and reduce error rates, and to deepen stakeholder partnerships and staff training to improve retention.

Charlie Regan, Executive Director of the Treehouse Child Advocacy Center, told the committee that a combination of county support and an added forensic interviewer eliminated the trauma-therapy wait list for most months; the Treehouse now conducts over 90% of forensic interviews in the county and has expanded referral and training partnerships with MCPS, MCPD special victims and health providers. The Treehouse said it had developed the HOPE program, expanded referral criteria and planned additional family advocates and outreach.

Council members asked for follow-up metrics and data: Councilmember Lukey pressed for clarity on how MCPS behavioral health staff would integrate with the youth safety work; Councilmember Sales asked for numbers on how many medical examinations and wellness checks for children taken into care were being completed and for mental-health referral partner details. DHHS agreed to provide more granular numbers and follow-up on interoperability and referral counts.

Council staff noted two executive budget reductions that lean on state contracts: a $42,000 reduction in county post-adoption services in favor of the Maryland Department of Human Services'contracted providers (Center for Adoption Support and Education and Adoptions Together), which will shift roughly eight local referrals into the state contract; and an $826,000 reduction reflecting full state funding for the Summer EBT/Sun Bucks program, which reached roughly 88,000 unique students in mid-2024.

The committee received the presentation and signaled support for the executive recommendations and for follow-up data and coordination sessions with education partners to refine the youth safety and data-sharing plans.","The DHHS Children, Youth and Families team presented FY26 budget items emphasizing a youth safety initiative, child welfare gains (kinship placements and adoptions), and Office of Eligibility's progress on program compliance and digital outreach; Treehouse Child Advocacy Center reported elimination of its trauma therapy wait list.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6259253,"Committee concurs with county executive on modest FY26 Office of Human Rights budget",729,28000,757000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3142578-5b4cc9106360919ad59c79eada922086&start=28&end=757","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3142578-5b4cc9106360919ad59c79eada922086/thumbnail_28000.jpg","/articles/6259253/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Committee-concurs-with-county-executive-on-modest-FY26-Office-of-Human-Rights-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259253-27622e2b0aa06a869e6c8bbcad50c5f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1776168039&Signature=MW1WZHcrPWrR5b1bWeTsZAWtGpLswivsRDAuyS~XRDy1j20nReJSmAmlPhzinq9ZUB7pTtmj9mvbyUI0lHMkXKjOs2evHBcI1Hv1vh1eMx8CtfTsmMPNrWb1-Y~u37g1VeYx-l78z83gh6qjzcTUvu8NQvVvexa1HFQBENHKEWMX3ddLI1RyBa-JW479bztiPEaDpq3D1y3h9b7W6VXCJ2kgFAFwMea1b1zxeCC0eP~s1JByM7QKvRTleB2Vb4OCEBYvRZh4HCCxvHcY6QJkYRFcoeEzByLO4OjaCzoFlwHBTBh6KSPH8Ig56Wfwmd1Pz9n2HgPqnFnEAxCexuLDUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Health and Human Services Committee of the Montgomery County Council reviewed and concurred with the county executive's FY26 operating budget recommendation for the Office of Human Rights, approving a 1.3% increase that is limited to compensation adjustments and non-discretionary operating costs.

The increase covers a recommended general fund total of $2,145,485 for FY26, with personnel costs of $1,834,296 and 11 staff positions. Council staff noted the operating line shows a decrease from FY25, and characterized the budget-equity tool as a modified SWOT rather than a numeric score.

Director Stowe told the committee the department has been restructuring operations and implementing procedural changes stemming from an OIG review that the office says have improved case processing. Stowe also described hiring activity: \"we did an internal posting ... secure 1 of those positions as a promotional opportunity ... the other opening went out to the general notice ... we were unsuccessful ... both ... turn the job down\" and said the department is re-posting with shared services and human resources while casting a wider recruiting net, including outreach to federal-sector candidates.

Council staff and the committee discussed vacancies and recruitment strategies, including targeting candidates with language skills to serve Montgomery County's English-as-a-second-language communities. After discussion among Chair Albinaz and committee members, Councilmember Maliki expressed support for the office's recent changes and the committee voted, without objection, to concur with both the council staff and county executive recommendations.

The committee asked the Office of Human Rights to return with status updates on recruitment and any other changes to operations that affect service delivery.","Montgomery County HHS committee agreed to the county executive's FY26 recommended budget for the Office of Human Rights, a modest 1.3% increase focused on compensation adjustments and maintaining existing positions while staff work to fill two vacancies.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

HHS committee adjusts Montgomery Cares reimbursement and approves one-time clinic support for American Diversity Group

Council committee backs expanded SHARP and homelessness funding as evictions rise

DHHS outlines FY26 Children, Youth and Families priorities: youth safety, kinship expansion and eligibility gains

Committee concurs with county executive on modest FY26 Office of Human Rights budget