![[photo, St. Mary's County Health Department, 21580 Peabody St., Leonardtown, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/sm/images/1198-1-08320b.jpg)
In 1880, the General Assembly authorized the State Board of Health to organize local boards of health or advisory committees in every city, village, and legislative district (Chapter 438, Acts of 1880). Not until 1886, however, were County responsibilities assigned. In that year, the Board of County Commissioners was designated as the St. Mary's County Board of Health and first met in July 1886 (Chapter 22, Acts of 1886). The Board chose a physician as Board secretary who was to monitor and report on sanitary conditions to the State Board of Health, and also record vital statistics.
Health Department, 21580 Peabody St., Leonardtown, Maryland, November 2017. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Today, the Health Department, under direction of the Health Officer, provides public health services and administers and enforces State and local health laws and regulations within St. Mary's County. Programs meet the public health needs of the community and provide services not offered by the private sector (Code Health-General Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-202).
Appointed by the Secretary of Health, the Health Officer is the executive officer and secretary of the County Board of Health (Code Health-General Article, secs. 3-301 through 3-310).
CHILD FATALITY REVIEW TEAM
The Child Fatality Review Team seeks to develop an understanding of the causes and incidence of child death in St. Mary's County. The Team develops plans for and recommends changes within the agencies represented on the Team to prevent child deaths; and promotes compensation and coordination among agencies involved in investigations of child deaths, or in providing services to surviving family members. The Team also advises the State Child Fatality Review Team on changes to law, policy, or practice to prevent child deaths (Chapters 355 & 356, Acts of 1999; Code Health-General Article, secs. 5-705 through 5-709).
COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE
DRUG & ALCOHOL ABUSE COUNCIL
The Council develops, submits to the Governor, and implements plans and strategies with which to evaluate, prevent, and treat alcohol and drug abuse in St. Mary's County.
The Community Health Advisory Committee was established in July 1994 (Resolution 94-17.2; County Code of Ordinances & Resolutions, sec. 154-1).
In 2004, a drug and alcohol abuse council was authorized in each county by the General Assembly (Chapters 237 & 238, Acts of 2004; Code Health-General Article, sec. 8-1001).
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