Wicomico Co. Partnership for Families and Children providing community resource
SALISBURY, Md. – “We just wanted to re-brand and get the name back out there,” said Michelle Bradley, Executive Director of Local Management Board for Wicomico County.
On Friday, the board relaunched the Partnership for Families and Children, complete with a ribbon cutting and an exclusive look into what their office does for the community and the services they provide.
Bradley said, “We do community needs assessment. We plan out strategic goals to fill in gaps in services that county residents may require.”
As new director, she says in order to fill those service gaps, it all starts with state funding.
Bradley said, “When we get our funding from the governor’s office of children, we try to match that with the county’s strategic goals and pair them together and see where the best fit is.”
The best fit, that all depends on which vendor they chose to award grant money to.
Examples of vendors they work with include Tri-County Mediation, which helps parents getting ready to be released from jail get back into the swing of parenting.
Another example is “EPOCH,” an after school program which helps under-resourced children in the Hebron, Maryland area.
Bradley said, “If you have a child that has mental health issues, or needs an IEP, and they don’t know where to start,” the partnership will help you find the services you need.
Conveniently located within the government office building in downtown Salisbury, they have an open door policy.
Bradley said, “If you come to us, we’ll figure out the door and get you where you need to be. We have an LCT (Local Care Team) coordinator that helps parents. It gives them a voice when they’re in a moment of crisis. If they don’t know know where to go to, we find what agencies can help them the best.”
Whatever it is you and your family needs, the county wants you to know help is right around the corner.
As for parents, Bradley says, “We help them make a difference in those children’s lives.”
To learn more about the partnership, visit their website for more information.
