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Committee backs short-term funding to keep rapid-response immigration hotline operational and to staff MCPS CPS clearance processing
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Summary
Amid concerns that cuts to an LHI/Identity contract would inadvertently reduce backend support for a CASA-run rapid-response immigration hotline, the committee agreed to move a CASA contract enhancement to the reconciliation list and to fund two contractors to keep MCPS CPS clearances from backsliding into prior backlogs.
The Montgomery County joint committee agreed to preserve operational capacity for a rapid-response immigration hotline and to fund additional contractor support for MCPS child-protective-service (CPS) clearances after staff warned that recent contract reductions risked disrupting essential workflows.
Tara Clemens Johnson described a $151,610 county-executive-requested contract for CASA to operate a triage-style rapid-response hotline that handles immigration‑related crisis calls. Department staff said a reduction to the Latino Health Initiative (LHI)/Identity contract earlier in the packet unintentionally removed back-end staffing that supported the rapid-response line. "This rapid response line...is specific to immigrants who are needing immediate assistance," DHHS staff said; the department asked the committee to move the CASA contract request to the reconciliation list so services remain uninterrupted.
Separately, the committee reviewed MD‑MCPS CPS clearance processing. Oscar Mainson, the countys social services officer, and Mark Hodge, DHHS chief operating officer, described steps taken since the inspector generals report: MCPS switched to the Maryland online portal, processing times fell from weeks to days, and DHHS hired contractors in late 2025 to eliminate a paper backlog. Hodge told the committee, "Each of our contracts that are direct service contracts...require each of their employees to have background checks," and DHHS is updating contract language and adding monitoring measures to strengthen compliance.
What the committee did: The committee agreed to place the CASA rapid-response contract request on the reconciliation list and supported FY27 one-time funding for two contractors to process MCPS CPS clearances while DHHS collects data to determine whether permanent FTEs are required. DHHS and procurement staff committed to stronger contract clauses and spot checks to ensure background checks and compliance.
Next steps: DHHS will provide written clarifications about how the rapid-response line is publicized and how Identity/LHI contract reductions intersect with CASA operations. The department will also return to the committee with usage data to justify any permanent staffing requests.
