Commissioners approve $553,413 in state funds for children'and-family programs

The Commissioners of Saint Mary's County voted April 21 to accept a FY27 Notice of Funding Availability from the Maryland Governor's Office for Children, allocating $553,413 in state funds and $1,102 in county funds to support local children and family programs.

Lori Jennings Harris, director of the county's Local Management Board, described the allocation and said the dollars fund existing partners and initiatives that serve children and families. Amanda Meteor, the local management board coordinator, said the application is consistent with prior years and supports programs including the local care team coordinator, the Boys & Girls Club in Lexington Park, Building Bridges, Circles Saint Mary's County, an interagency liaison and the Nurse Family Partnership program. Meteor said eligible providers are primarily 501(c)(3) nonprofits that submit proposals and budgets for review.

Commissioner Eric Coleman moved to approve the application and authorize the commissioner president to execute related documents; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The board's approval clears the application to the state and keeps the local management board's proposal on schedule for program administration and vendor selection. The funding announcement and the board's authorization are procedural steps required for the county to receive and distribute the grant dollars; the meeting record shows the board approved the motion and directed the commissioner president to sign the necessary documents.

Next steps: the Local Management Board will continue its vendor review and contract processes for those nonprofit providers identified in the application.