Department of Veterans Affairs;VA Maryland Health Care System

The annual report outlines the activities and priorities of the Juvenile Grant Planning and Review Council, functioning as Maryland's State Advisory Group. Key areas of focus include compliance with the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, particularly the four core protections: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, sight and sound separation, removal of juveniles from adult jails, and reduction of disproportionate minority contact. The council's priorities for the next three years include aftercare and reentry programs, juvenile justice system improvement, delinquency prevention, and community-based programs and services. The report also details the council's subcommittees, grant monitoring activities, and plans for compliance with core protections and disproportionate minority contact requirements.

The meeting addressed several key areas, including updates on the statewide polebook modernization project and the new voting system project, preparations for the 2026 elections, and the use of artificial intelligence in accordance with the governor's guidelines. The board discussed the MD Chris replacement update, public financing in various counties, and the annual inventory review. They also covered the Prince George's County special general election and efforts to inform voters about mail-in ballot procedures for the 2026 election. Personnel updates included new hires and ongoing recruitment for election director positions in several counties.

The 2024-2025 Strategic Plan for the Maryland Commission on Veterans and Military Families focuses on four key areas: integrated military-civilian communities, sustainable employment opportunities, comprehensive higher education possibilities, and meaningful pathways to stability. The plan aims to make Maryland the premier state for veterans and military families by enhancing their quality of life through targeted initiatives. These initiatives include improving data collection and sharing, establishing homebuyer programs, streamlining employment licensing portability for military spouses, increasing the number of Purple Star Schools, streamlining scholarship programs, and creating resources such as a "Maryland-You're Welcome Here" guide. The plan emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and targeted investments to address the unique needs of Maryland's military community.