Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
On October 21, 2026, the Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee, chaired by Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles, held a virtual annual meeting with the Department of Health and Human Services' advisory boards, committees, and commissions (BCCs). The committee heard from 17 BCCs and three health initiatives over two days. Presenters outlined priorities for FY28, highlighting gaps in workforce, housing, behavioral health, and safety net services amid federal policy changes and fiscal constraints. The meeting focused on four questions: what is working, greatest gaps, what residents are saying, whether investments reach intended people, and specific actions needed.
Committee Questions: Councilmembers asked about specific staffing needs for victim services (two additional advocates), bridge housing formula knowledge, and coordination with bills/legislation. Councilmember Ludke discussed need for warm handoffs between bridge housing and ongoing housing. Councilmember Friedson asked about regional best practices; Yerburo stated Montgomery County leads in culturally competent services. Councilmember Ludke also raised the need for better communication about student telehealth policies.
Committee Questions: Councilmember Sayles asked about measurable improvements (KPI tracking, pre/post surveys). Dr. Gray discussed the cost per shelter bed ($28,923) and per overflow bed ($40,150). Councilmember Friedson asked about permanent supportive housing underfunding; Dr. Gray noted federal priority shifts to workforce development. Councilmember Friedson asked IDDC about employment feasibility study; Harton mentioned collaboration with other counties and the 2018 work group report. Councilmember Ludke discussed re-entry and youth justice, and the need for non-congregate shelter alternatives.
Committee Questions: Councilmember Sayles asked CAB about preserving Head Start standards and immigrant outreach. CAB staff noted proactive outreach and collaboration with food hubs. Councilmember Sayles asked Veterans Commission about Operation Greenlight; Chair Wilson noted website and collaboration. Councilmember Sayles asked COPD about employment outcomes; Gilchrist cited AI/gig economy impacts and federal job losses, discussed floating bus stop inconsistency. Councilmember Friedson commented on Design for Life and HARP underutilization and need for legislative changes. CAB reported a dip in VITA use due to fear. Councilmember Ludke suggested using food distribution hubs for service outreach. COPD and COA discussed accessible parking shortages and elevator inspection issues.
Good morning. I am Councilmember Lori Ann Sales, Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee. I welcome my committee colleagues, Councilmember Don Ludke, and Councilmember Friedson, who will be joining us shortly for our advisory board, committee, and commission meeting. And you will check in. We have members joining us over Zoom and everyone watching on County Cable, Montgomery or online. Thank you for your flexibility as we meet virtually. Today and tomorrow, we will hear directly from our Department of Health and Human Services, advisory boards, committees, and commissions about your priorities, the needs you see across our communities and where additional county action may be needed. This is still my first year as Health and Human Services Chair, but I have always valued these discussions. You bring expertise, lived experience, and a commitment to service that help us understand how county policies and investments affect residents' day-to-day lives. Your perspective is especially important as federal policy and funding changes affect essential services and place additional uh pressure on our local safety nets. Over the next two days, I want us to focus on four questions. What is working? Where are the greatest gaps? What are you hearing directly from residents? Are county investments reaching the people they are intended to serve? And then what specific actions should the committee and council take to address these gaps? We will hear from three to four board committees and commissions at each interval. Each group will have up to four minutes to present its priorities, followed by committee questions and comments. Thank you to our lead analysts for coordinating these discussions and helping us prepare. I'll now turn to Ms. Clemens Johnson to walk us through today's agenda and staff packet. Thank you. Thank you, Chair Sales, and good morning to the HHS committee. And thank you so much to everyone, all of the BCC representatives that are will be attending today and tomorrow. Um the packet was posted last week, and it includes the um priority statements submitted by each of the 20 uh boards, commissions, and committees that fall under DHHS. Um I'll reverse that. There are 17 boards, commissions, and committees, and also our uh three health initiatives that participate. So collectively, there will be 20 representatives for those organizations. Um, so I just want to thank you all for um coming on board today. Um, I believe council member sales just went over the format. Usually we'll have three of the boards present at one time for the four minutes, and then the uh committee will ask this questions. So, given that we have 10 boards that need to present, we'll have um roughly three um kind of sessions, if you want to call them during this um larger meeting. So um again, just want to thank you to everyone, and I'll turn it back over to Chair Sales. All right, thank you, Miss Clemens Johnson. We will begin with our first panel that includes our victims services advisory board, Montgomery Cares Advisory Board, and our mental health advisory board. And so we have Miss, I believe, co-chairs, Sean Quineta Anderson and Celeste Roja with the Victim Services. We have Catherine Kelly, Dr. Kelly with Montgomery Cares Advisory Board, and Elizabeth Neil. We have the other big yes, I'm Celeste, if I can go, because I've got to hop off shortly. Um, so I'm the one of the co-chairs for the Montgomery County Victim Services Advisory Board. Pardon the noise behind me. I'm at orientation right now. Um, we had talked about our two priorities for 2027, which is like being fully staffing the HHS pharma services and expanding access to bridge housing for victims. What we're noticing with the Betty and Cranking shelter, there's still like an overflow. There's not enough space for when there is like a need for safe shelter for you know survivors to go. And we need to be able to have effective housing transitions, but I feel like that is where I feel like it's not being done right now.