PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Each county across Maryland has a Local Care Team (LCT) appointed by the Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families that focuses on getting people the support they need when they need it, with as few hurdles as possible.
The team is a breath of fresh air for people who expect extra stress, red tape and even fear when they’re at their most vulnerable. When people are in search of help, the LCT team steps up.
An LCT is “an interagency team that functions as a collaboration of helping hands dedicated to providing families of youth with intensive needs with the resources necessary to find success.”
The Calvert LCT’s stated goal, as per their website, is “to provide assistance identifying and securing resources that will meet each person’s individual needs.”
Their role is basically to make sure a family’s information and the services available are all in one place so that they can access the right resources at the right time. They also designate the families a point person and parent advocate to help them navigate anything that comes. This helps ensure people are pointed in the right direction, rather than sifting through endless information by themselves.
The LCT’s focus is partly on serving as a one-stop shop to connect families with all the resources they need. The other major part of their focus is to keep kids with their families and out of placement situations.
According to LCT Coordinator Ariane Odom, the LCT helped 73 kids last year, mostly boys ages 12–16 with more than one mental health diagnosis. The organization’s calendar runs July 1 to June 30, so Odom was just starting to look at patterns and successes from the most recent year.
Getting families access to services so kids can stay with their families is the best option for kids and caretakers. It’s also the most cost-effective solution for the county. By bringing all the agencies and services into one place, the LCT demonstrates that supporting people in our community is both the ethical and economic path.
Some hurdles Calvert families face are time constraints, lack of transportation and insurance limitations. In a rural community, getting to and from appointments adds extra stress if people lack reliable transportation.
Families can self-refer to the LCT, and Odom says the best thing to do if you’re struggling is to reach out. Everything is confidential, and the care team aims to do what’s best for everyone.
And if you see someone you know struggling, you can direct them to the LCT’s page to learn more. Odom also recommends people reach out to her directly; her contact information is on the LCT website.
“We support parents,” Odom says. “That’s our entire purpose.”
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