The MASSB Minute

Greetings Everyone! As we move into summer, I want to thank each of you for the dedication and compassion you bring to your local boards and communities every day. The stories and initiatives highlighted during the last Community Meeting and in our monthly newsletters remind us that meaningful changes happen through connection, partnership, and service. Whether it supports innovative programs like the Charles County Public Library Storybook Program, planning strategic board initiatives, or volunteering your time to strengthen local services, your efforts truly make a difference.

Although we are still a few months away from one of our signature events, I also encourage everyone to begin thinking about our Annual Conference on October 9 at Rocky Gap Casino, Resort & Golf Course in Washington County and nominations for the Lifting Lives Awards. This year's theme, From Policy to People: The Power of Partnership in Advocacy and Beyond, will provide an important opportunity to learn, collaborate, and energize our shared mission. Volunteers are the heart of MASSB, and your continued engagement is what allows us to grow stronger together. Let us keep the momentum focused on lifting the lives of others.

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.

During this time of year when we celebrate mothers and fathers, we recognize the extraordinary impact of the Charles County Public Library Storybook Program. Our thanks to Sarah Anderson, Program & Outreach Manager, for explaining the program and the vital role it plays in maintaining parent-child bonds while parents are incarcerated.

The Charles County Public Library operates a fully operational library branch within the Charles County Detention Center offering a variety of programs to incarcerated individuals including resume building, job interview preparation, chess tournaments, book clubs, and other reentry-focused services. However, the most popular offering is the Storybook Program. The Storybook Program promotes early childhood literacy and fosters a connection between incarcerated individuals who have young children at home that they are separated from.

About the Program
The Storybook Program began in April 2023, alongside the opening of the Charles County Detention Center Library branch. It was envisioned as a meaningful way to promote early childhood literacy and help incarcerated individuals stay connected with their children, which can be a strong source of motivation. It helps the parent stay positive and focused during incarceration, providing something meaningful to look forward to in an otherwise difficult environment. For the child, preserving that connection makes it easier to rebuild and strengthen the relationship once the parent is no longer incarcerated and helps create better emotional outcomes for the child.

The Storybook Program provides participants the opportunity to record themselves reading a recordable children's book that is provided by the library. They are able to include a special message at the beginning of the book, allowing them to speak directly to their child or children. While reading, they can also personalize the story by adding comments, using the child's name, or including small, meaningful messages throughout. In addition, parents may write a letter or note that we include with the book, giving them another way to connect and share a personal message. After recording, each book is packaged in a gift bag along with a stuffed animal that corresponds with the book's theme. Once children receive their recorded books, they can open their new book and read along to a story while hearing their parents' voices at any time. Having a recorded story allows children to hear their parent's voice whenever they need comfort, which can be incredibly meaningful.

Monthly board meetings are great for connecting with your Director and discussing community needs. But dedicating a larger block of time each year for brainstorming and developing goals and plans will accelerate your board's impact. Find a time when most (or ideally all) of your members can meet for at least half a day. Schedule a conference room at a library or other venue. Develop a structured agenda to keep discussion on track. End the session with a plan to move forward with renewed energy to tackle your goals. Need help? E-mail massbftrustee@gmail.com for assistance from one our experienced members. Good luck!

Please use the most recent Withdrawal form when requesting funds. The form includes a list of Allowable Expenses and an area to indicate how many people you will help by program (Basic Needs, Health & Safety, Growth & Opportunity). These important metrics are needed for our tax return and grant writing. Providing them at the time of the request eliminates the back and forth e-mails at the end of the year. Thank you!

Grants up to $2,500 are now available for local boards. The grant funds are intended to kick-start new initiatives and may be used for direct customer support or fundraising expenses. The project or initiative should be board-led, or conducted in partnership with DSS. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

It's not too early to start thinking about the Lifting Lives Award! Awarded annually as part of MASSB's October conference, the Lifting Lives Award recognizes projects or initiatives that are innovative or impact the local community in a positive way. Projects may be DSS-led or Board-led, however, board involvement is strongly encouraged. Awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place include a monetary allocation to the winning board's MASSB Foundation account of up to $1,500. The deadline for submission is October 2, 2026.