Section 9-2803 - Establishment(a) Subject to the requirements of this section, the Special Secretary shall establish an enough grant program designed to advance place-based strategies targeting child poverty.(b) The purpose of enough grants made by the Office under this section is to:(1) increase community health and safety;(2) provide "cradle to career" access to high-quality education and care;(3) connect residents to quality jobs and in-demand occupations;(4) enable family-sustaining income and access to affordable high-quality housing, child care, and health care, including reproductive, maternal, behavioral, and mental health care; (5) provide high-quality support for children with disabilities, child welfare, and justice-involved youth and young adults;(6) connect individuals to State programs; and(7) leverage federal, local, and private funding for the eligible neighborhood.(c)(1) The Office shall annually identify and communicate to each local government eligible neighborhoods for the Program.(2)(i) The Office may determine that because of the close proximity of eligible neighborhoods and their similarities in residents and needs that a regional neighborhood would maximize resources for the neighborhood.(ii) A regional neighborhood may not receive less funding under the Program because of the coordination of multiple eligible neighborhoods.(d)(1) Once the Office identifies an eligible neighborhood for the Program, the Office shall engage with the neighborhood community, seek input from residents, and approve a lead partner for the neighborhood.(2) A lead partner may be a: (i) local management board;(ii) local governmental entity;(iii) community action agency;(iv) local community organization; or(v) nonprofit organization.(3) The Office shall establish qualifications, standards, and processes for determining the lead partner for the neighborhood.(4) The Office may assign staff or provide technical assistance to assist the neighborhood.(5) The lead partner shall coordinate all aspects of the Program for the neighborhood and any other responsibilities defined by the Office.(e)(1)(i) Subject to the availability of funds, each lead partner shall receive a grant from the Office, in an amount determined by the Office, to complete a needs assessment for the eligible neighborhood.(ii) Each needs assessment shall include: 1. an assessment of the physical, behavioral, mental health, education, housing, economic, and safety needs of the community;2. an immediate plan to achieve the purpose of the Program, if applicable to the eligible neighborhood;3. a long-term plan, including goals, for the eligible neighborhood;4. a description of where State funding is being requested to be spent in the eligible neighborhood; and5. any additional standards required by the Office.(iii) The Office shall establish the standards and policies for developing a needs assessment for each eligible neighborhood, including:1. opportunity for engagement and input by members of the eligible neighborhood's community;2. local management board input and assistance; and3. deadlines and review processes.(iv) The needs assessment shall supplement and not conflict with the needs assessment completed for the community school served by the eligible neighborhood.(v) In completing the needs assessment, the lead partner shall coordinate with the local community school, a community based organization, and the local government.(vi) In completing the needs assessment, the lead partner may coordinate with:1. local community organizations;2. union or worker organizations;3. anchor institutions, including local health care organizations, institutions of higher education, workforce investment boards, or local care management teams;4. local law enforcement agencies; or5. faith-based organizations.(vii) If an eligible neighborhood has completed a recent assessment similar to the needs assessment required under this section, the Office may require the eligible neighborhood to only submit an abbreviated needs assessment that addresses the requirements of this section.(2) At the request of the lead partner, the Office may assist the lead partner to complete a needs assessment.(3)(i) The lead partner shall submit the needs assessment to the Office for approval.(ii) If approved, and subject to the availability of funds, the Office shall provide a neighborhood implementation grant, in an amount determined by the Office, to the lead partner who has met standards established by the Office, to complete the items in the eligible neighborhood's needs assessment.(f) The Office may consult with entities that it deems relevant to support enough partnerships.Added by 2024 Md. Laws, Ch. 408,Sec. 3, eff. 7/1/2024.