The MASSB Minute

Greetings Everyone! A central goal of MASSB is to support and strengthen Advisory Boards across the state as they work in partnership with their Departments of Social Services to serve vulnerable individuals and families in their communities. One way we advanced this goal was through the recent MASSB Winter Conference, which brought together board members and partners for meaningful discussions on legislation, advocacy, and collaborative strategies.

Building on this momentum, we are launching a new initiative to further strengthen connections between MASSB and local Advisory Boards: we invite you to request a visit from members of the MASSB Executive Team to join your Advisory Board meetings, share updates, and support your board's goals. We are also pleased to announce that the MASSB Annual Conference will be held on October 9, hosted by Washington County at Rocky Gap Casino, Resort and Golf. This year's theme, From Policy to People: The Power of Partnership in Advocacy and Beyond, will provide another opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and celebrate the impactful work of our Lifting Lives Award projects.

Best,
Tony

Your board is meeting with your Director monthly to discuss the social services situation in your county. Also monthly, the MASSB Minute is arriving by e-mail. What is MASSB? How is MASSB related to your board? Invite an experienced member of our leadership team to your board meeting to answer these questions and discuss how we can help your board reach its goals.

Thank you to all who attended this year's Winter Conference hosted by Howard County. Justin Hayes, Acting Director, DHS Office of Government Affairs, joined us once again to help us understand legislation that will impact our work serving vulnerable Marylanders. Nikki Tyree, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Maryland, provided an excellent overview of LWVMD's steps to become a respected advocacy organization, including successes, challenges, and the value of coalitions.

Each April, communities come together to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month — a time to raise awareness, strengthen families, and help create safe, supportive environments for children. At Kent County Child Advocacy Center (CAC), this commitment is reflected not only in prevention efforts, but also in the trauma-informed care provided to every child and family served.

One meaningful way the CAC supports children and non-offending caregivers is through Wellness Bags — thoughtfully prepared resources that offer comfort, reassurance, and tools for healing. For more than four years, the CAC has provided wellness items to victims of child maltreatment and their families, distributing an average of 20 bags each year, funded through the MASSB Kent County CARES Foundation via private donors, United Way and GOCPP grants.

When we ask Board Chairs what their #1 challenge is, we often hear "recruiting new board members." Finding and attracting the right people to your board can be a challenge, particularly for counties located in rural areas or where many nonprofits are competing for the same talent. The key is to take a strategic approach: (1) What skills and experience do you need on your board? (2) Where can you recruit potential applicants? (3) How will you execute your plan?

We are grateful to the Community Trust Foundation's Lions Center Donor Advised Fund for their generous grant, which will enable Allegany County's DSS to provide assistance to vulnerable adults and seniors in their community. The investment is designed to prevent injury, homelessness, premature institutionalization, preventable hospitalization and utility shut-offs, directly allowing vulnerable seniors to age in place with dignity and security.