In this subtitle, “Fund” means the Children’s Cabinet Interagency Fund.
There is a Children’s Cabinet Interagency Fund.
The Fund:
consists of money appropriated, transferred, credited, or paid into the Fund from any source; and
includes money for out–of–home care and services to prevent out–of–home placements.
At the end of each fiscal year any unspent money in the Fund shall revert to the General Fund.
The Governor shall include in the annual budget bill the following appropriations for the Fund to be used for grants to eligible local management boards:
for fiscal years 2028 through 2030, an appropriation at least equal to the appropriation to the Fund in fiscal year 2027; and
for fiscal year 2031, $500,000 above the appropriation to the Fund in fiscal year 2030.
Money expended from the Fund for grants to eligible local management boards under paragraph (1) of this subsection is supplemental to and not intended to take the place of funding that otherwise would be expended for grants to eligible local management boards.
Expenditures from the Fund shall be made:
in accordance with the State Finance and Procurement Article; and
to reflect the priorities, policies, and procedures that the Children’s Cabinet adopts.
A local management board shall apply for money from the Fund in accordance with procedures established by the Children’s Cabinet.
In connection with an application for money under subsection (a) of this section, a local management board shall develop and submit a community partnership agreement that:
reflects coordination with:
the State’s 3-year plan for children, youth, and families; and
any local government plan for services for children, youth, and families, including the local substance abuse plan developed in accordance with Title 8, Subtitle 10 of the Health - General Article; and
addresses the priorities and strategies of the county for meeting the identified needs of children and families as articulated in the local management board’s 5-year strategic plan regarding:
youth development;
prevention services;
crisis and early intervention;
services for children at risk of out-of-home placement or returning from out-of-home placement; and
out-of-home placement and treatment.
The Children’s Cabinet may disburse money to a local management board subject to the terms, conditions, performance measures, or outcome evaluations that the Children’s Cabinet considers necessary.
The local management board shall use the money to implement:
a local interagency services delivery system for children, youth, and families in accordance with the community partnership agreement; and
any terms, conditions, and performance measures that the Children’s Cabinet requires.
The State shall fund only evidence–based and promising home visiting programs for improving parent and child outcomes, as provided in the State budget.
Not less than 75% of the State funding for home visiting programs shall be made available to evidence–based home visiting programs.
The Maryland Department of Health and the other agencies of the Children’s Cabinet, with input from local management boards, local home visiting programs, and the Early Childhood Advisory Council, shall require the recipients of State funding for home visiting programs to submit reports to the Maryland Department of Health on a regular basis.
Home visiting program reports shall include, at a minimum:
a verifiable accounting of the State funds spent;
the number and demographic characteristics of the individuals served; and
the outcomes achieved by the home visiting programs.
The Maryland Department of Health and the other agencies of the Children’s Cabinet shall develop a standardized reporting mechanism for the purpose of collecting information about and monitoring the effectiveness of State–funded home visiting programs.
On or before December 1, 2013, and at least every 2 years thereafter, the Maryland Department of Health, jointly with the other agencies of the Children’s Cabinet shall submit a report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Senate Finance Committee, the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families on the implementation and outcomes of State–funded home visiting programs.
The Governor’s Office for Children is the fiscal agent for the Fund.