EXECUTIVE ORDERS

A.  The Children and Family Services Reform Project is
established within the Executive Department. Its purpose is
to begin a focused pilot project designed to create a model
children and family [services] SERVICE system which will:

(1)  Strengthen families' capacities to care for their
children at home;

(2)  Enhance the development, well-being, and care of
special needs children through comprehensive prevention and
early intervention services;

(3)  Provide a continuum of effective care and
treatment for needy or troubled children at home, or in
out-of-home placements, where that is necessary;

(4)  Achieve prompt adoptions, or other supportive
long-term placements for children who cannot be returned to
their families; and

(5)  Rely primarily upon community based services
which impose the least restrictions that are consistent with
their effectiveness and the dignity and rights of the child
and family.

B.  The Subcabinet for Children and Youth consisting of the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Department of Human
Resources, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, Juvenile Services
Agency, Office for Children and Youth, and Office for
Handicapped Individuals shall supervise the project and
establish POLICIES governing interagency coordination. The
Director of the Governor's Office for Children and Youth
shall chair the [project] SUBCABINET and the Department of
Human Resources shall be the lead agency for the project.

C.  A [Projected] PROJECT Advisory Council shall be
established to advise the Subcabinet for Children and Youth
and the Department of Human Resources on the progress of the
project and how it can best meet its goals. The Advisory
Council shall consist of no more than twenty members
appointed by the Governor, including representatives of
State and local public and private agencies which provide
children and family services, the General Assembly, the
Judiciary, local governments, advocates for children, and
interested private citizens. The Secretary of Human
Resources shall be chair of the Council.

D.  The pilot project shall be funded by State, federal,
local, and private funds in accordance with the budget and
applicable State or federal laws and regulations.

E.  With the assistance of the Subcabinet for Children and
Youth, the pilot project shall:

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