The Talbot County Department of Social Services (DSS) is seeking new members for its advisory board. The board meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday of each month at lunchtime, except for July, August, and December. The board’s role is to provide advisory, advocacy, oversight, community education, and resource development for the Talbot County DSS.
“I see our role as being supportive community advocates for the Department of Social Services whether that’s through an organization that we might be involved in or where we volunteer, or just as things come up in the community. Learning what the staff does in the department opens your eyes to its important role in the community,” comments Elaine Wilson, Vice Chair of the Social Services Board.
“Each month, a different DSS department staff member makes a presentation to the board which helps us see how everything works in the community. We support the DSS staff through our Staff Appreciation Committee by providing each department with something special to thank them after each of their presentations. I enjoy the environment of this board and the mix of people on it,” adds Victoria Gomez Lozano, current Chair of the board.
Current members of the Social Services Board include Sandy Brown, Rev. Susan Browning, Sarah Cloxton, Dorri Gowe-Lambert, Victoria Gomez, Andrew Hollis, Samantha Jeter, Elaine Wilson, and Peter Lesher (Talbot County Council Representative).
Sandy Brown is currently associated with 91.7 WHCP-FM radio station in Easton. She previously served as Executive Director of Mid-Shore Pro-Bono, developing critical programs focused on providing access to legal assistance for the Eastern Shore’s low-income residents.
Rev. Susan Browning serves as the minister for the Unitarian Universalist congregations in Easton and Chestertown. For the past six years, she has been the chair of the Talbot County Association of Clergy and Laity.
Sarah Cloxton is director of the Talbot County Addictions Program. She also serves as the Local Addictions Authority in Talbot County and collaborates with the Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration to integrate systems planning and management of the Public Behavioral Health System.
Andy Hollis is the Executive Director of Upper Shore Aging, which provides senior services for the residents of Caroline, Kent, and Talbot counties on behalf of those county governments. He previously served as Talbot County Manager, Executive Director of Londonderry Retirement Community, and Deputy Director of Delmarva Community Services in Cambridge.
Samantha Jeter is the Customer Service Specialist at Easton Utilities Commission. She is also a member of the Talbot County Community Resources Committee.
Dorri Gowe-Lambert is the owner/ occupational therapist of Building Bridges Pediatric Therapy Services. Building Bridges was designed to provide comprehensive care and support to children and adolescents with a wide range of developmental, sensory, communication, and physical challenges.
Victoria Gomez Lozano is the Hispanic outreach coordinator at Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center. She was recently appointed to the Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs. She is a member of the Talbot County Education Foundation Board and the Talbot Mentors Board, as well as a mentor. She also recently went through a Professional Interpreter Training to better serve the community.
Elaine Wilson is a retired educator who has worked as the Dean of Workforce Development at Chesapeake College. In her former positions in Continuing Education, she worked with the Departments of Social Services in all five counties to set up training for clients and staff.
“We have such a vibrant board representing a diverse cross-section of the community. We appreciate their dedication and expertise in guiding our agency’s direction and interaction with the community. We hope others will see the value in service on this board in the future,” comments Linda Webb, Director of Talbot County DSS.
To apply for a position on the Social Services Board, visit the Talbot County website for an application, https://talbotcountymd.gov/, or call the County Manager’s Office at 410-770-8010.
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