Community Services Division, St. Mary's County
http://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/recreate/ocs/index.asp
23150 Leonard Hall Drive
Leonardtown, MD 20650
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(301) 475-4200 ext. 1849    FAX: (301) 475-4268   
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The Community Services Division of St. Mary’s County Recreation, Parks and Community Services strives to encourage interagency collaboration and the sharing of information and resources; promotes volunteerism and facilitates community empowerment; and serves as an advocate for the development and well being of children, youth and families in order to develop self-reliant and responsible communities and citizenry. The Division, with the collaboration and assistance from a variety of State and local agencies, offers many programs that promote alcohol & drug abuse prevention, community mobilization, highway safety, and volunteerism. Additionally, the Division has administered the St. Mary’s County Teen Court Program since January 2003.

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The OCS provides support for the Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Victims Advisory Council of St. Mary's County; the Council on Children and Youth; the Community Services Coordination Committee; the Human Relations Commission; the Council on Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting; the Commission for Women; the St. Mary's Interagency Children's Committee; the St. Mary's County Alliance for Alcohol/Drug Abuse Prevention; the County Prevention Program; and the Commission for the Disabled.

The OCS provides support for a variety of youth-related, mental health and community service projects and activities and organizations throughout the year. The office has evolved into a center for the gathering and dissemination of information, and the collection of data through the use of surveys. It is a central resource center.

This office coordinates a wide array of volunteer projects and responds to community needs through coordination of day care programs, prevention efforts, community empowerment, low income housing and other resources.

It further educates the public and other agencies through the publication of the Community Services Directory, which is updated every other year. This directory has become a vital resource for many state and county professionals. There is no charge for this publication.

Grant funds support a county-wide substance abuse prevention program, including the development of a prevention resource center, the publication of a monthly newsletter and the sponsorship of prevention awareness training workshops for students, parents and professionals.

The OCS has been instrumental in the organization of the St. Mary's County Alliance for Alcohol/Drug Abuse Prevention formed in 1989, which has been an active local force in the War on Drugs. This umbrella organization acts as a clearinghouse for all agencies and organizations which are involved in prevention, treatment, law enforcement, education, and other facets of this effort. There are town meetings, community empowerment and grassroots projects throughout the county.

Additionally, the Alliance, with the assistance of member agencies and local. federal and state grant funding, provides non-fee summer camps, a variety of cultural activities, parenting courses, alternative drug and alcohol - free events, Hooked On Fishing, and Freedom Fest. The Alliance also supports numerous national programs such as Red Ribbon Week. the Volunteers in Service To America (VISTA). Students Against Drunk Driving. the Highway Safety Campaign. the Summer of Safety and the Designated Driver effort.