Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency

In 2008, legislation to establish a Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency was introduced by the County Executive and passed by the County Council. The purpose of the Board is to:

• Support the goal of the Human Services Master Plan to build a community that enables individuals and families to have adequate income and resources to meet their basic needs;
  
  
• Act as the planning and coordinating mechanism for initiatives to promote the economic stability of individuals and families; and reduce the incidence of poverty in Howard County; and
  
  
• Serve as the governance body for the distribution of certain resources that support initiatives of the Board.

The Board brings together key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. Current community members are:

• Lisa Bandel-Sparks, Lisbon United Methodist Church
  
  
• Andrea Ingram, Grassroots Crisis Intervention
  
  
• Julie Keough, E-structors (Chair)
  
  
• Irfan Malik, Preserve Investments
  
  
• Richard Ohnmacht, PNC Bank
  
  
• Jane O’Leary, Congregations Concerned for the Homeless
  
  
• Kelley Riddle, Department of Social Services
  
  
• James Smith, Community Action Council
  
  
• Sharon Smith, Corridor Transportation Corporation
  
  
• Anne Towne, Association of Community Services
  
  
• Helen Woods, New Life Commercial Cleaning
  
  

Current ex officio members are:

• Charlene Gallion, Department of Social Services (Vice-Chair)
  
  
• Jack Kavanagh, Department of Corrections
  
  
• Diane Martin, Howard County Public School System
  
  
• Ron Roberson, Howard Community College
  
  
• Susan Rosenbaum, Department of Citizen Services
  
  
• Glenn Schneider, Health Department
  
  
• Stacy Spann, Department of Housing & Community Development
  
  
• Francine Trout, Office of Workforce Development
  
  
• Donna Wells, Mental Health Authority
  
  

The Board began meeting in January, 2009. One of its first actions was to create a Committee to End Homelessness. This committee is charged with leading the effort to develop and implement a Plan to End Homelessness.

The Board generally meets the fourth Thursday of the month, from 8:30 – 10:00 A.M., in the Gateway Building. Contact Citizen Services at 410-313-6400 to confirm meeting time and location.

For more information regarding the Board, contact Lois Mikkala by e-mail: lmikkila@howardcountymd.gov or by phone at 410-313-6425.