Maryland § 8-1309

§ 8-1309.

    (a)    (1)    The Commission shall:

            (i)    assist in the identification of any State program or service that impacts children, youth, families, and older adults;

            (ii)    assist in the development of a statewide strategy toward an organizational culture shift into a trauma–responsive State government;

            (iii)    establish metrics, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health, to evaluate and assess the progress of the statewide trauma–informed care initiative;

            (iv)    coordinate and develop with the Maryland Department of Health any formal or informal trauma–informed care training;

            (v)    disseminate information among agencies regarding best practices for preventing and mitigating the impact of trauma on children, youth, families, and older adults;

            (vi)    advise and assist the Governor in providing oversight and accountability in implementing the requirements of this subtitle;

            (vii)    submit a report using the Commission’s established evaluation and assessment metrics, as described in item (iii) of this paragraph, that includes an assessment of:

                1.    the implementation of trauma–informed care policies within each agency; and

                2.    the trauma–responsiveness of each agency; and

            (viii)    make recommendations regarding improvements to existing laws relating to children, youth, families, and older adults in the State.

        (2)    On or before June 30 each year, the Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.

    (b)    (1)    In this subsection, “Program” means the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Aware Program.

        (2)    In consultation with the Maryland Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, and the Maryland Health Care Commission, the Commission shall:

            (i)    study developing a process and framework for implementing an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Aware Program in the State; and

            (ii)    implement the Program.

        (3)    The purpose of the Program is to screen for adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress to provide targeted evidence–based interventions to support individual and family health, in order to improve individual and family well–being and reduce health care costs.

        (4)    As part of the study, the Commission shall:

            (i)    propose a process to set up training and an accreditation process for providers in the Program; and

            (ii)    explore the possibility of third–party reimbursement, including the State Medical Assistance Program, for screenings under the Program.

        (5)    On or before October 1 each year, beginning in 2022, the Commission shall report its findings and recommendations regarding the development and implementation of the Program to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.