Rappeport

The testimony ended yesterday, finally depositing with Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sole responsibility for determining in the next weeks whether Henry Howard, killer of four family members nine years ago, can now safely rejoin society.But before beginning her private deliberations, the judge shared her dilemma with the court and particularly with Baltimore Assistant State's Attorney Edwin Wenck, who argued that Mr. Howard is not yet ready for a conditional release from the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital for the criminally insane.

The district director of Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland briefed the Carroll County Children's Council on Wednesday about anti-abuse services available through Family and Children's Services.Sandra Rappeport told members there are three programs dealing with different kinds of abuse that can take place within a family."Right now we offer the generic Family Counseling program, the Sexual Abuse Treatment program and the Battered Spouse program," said Ms. Rappeport.All three offer individual counseling and group sessions, Ms. Rappeport said.

After more than a year, Carroll County's only counseling program for men who batter their wives or girlfriends is set to start anew this fall.The program, offered through Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland, ended July 1994 when the Carroll office lost part of its state funding.Since then, men who were ordered by a Carroll judge to attend a therapy program or those who sought counseling on their own had to travel to a program in Lochearn run by the Family and Children's Services office in Baltimore County.

Maryland State Police are seeking federal help to launch two projects, one in Carroll and another serving five Eastern Shore counties, that for the first time would provide a coordinated approach to the investigation and prosecution of domestic violence cases in rural areas.The agency is requesting between $500,000 and $700,000 to hire investigators who would specialize in domestic violence, expand shelters for victims and their children, and train police officers in the most effective ways to respond to domestic violence calls.

Officials at Carroll's Family and Children's Services are counting heavily on a fund-raiser set for tomorrow in Westminster. They hope the Beach Party Dance will bring in $5,000 to $8,000 -- enough to make a difference for the agency's Sexual Abuse Treatment Center.Despite the County Commissioners' vote last month for a 27-cent tax increase that avoided widespread cuts in county services, the agency lost half its budget for sexual abuse counseling services.The cuts have forced the abuse treatment program -- which last year served 309 clients, including 105 children -- to review priorities and look for alternative funding sources.

A statewide plan to move Medicaid recipients into managed health care organizations has local agencies worried that poor children may not continue receiving appropriate mental health counseling.The state Mental Hygiene Administration is working out details of the plan, scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, but it's unclear how mental health services will be delivered to children receiving assistance through the federal- and state-funded insurance program for low-income families.Of major concern to Carroll County providers is whether their agencies may continue counseling once a health maintenance organization assumes responsibility for overseeing mental health services.

After more than a year, Carroll County's only counseling program for men who batter their wives or girlfriends is set to start anew this fall.The program, offered through Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland, ended in July 1994 when the Carroll office lost part of its state funding.Since then, men who were ordered by a Carroll judge to attend a therapy program or those who sought counseling on their own had to travel to a program in Lochearn run by the Family and Children's Services office in Baltimore County.

A former Sykesville man who was found guilty in March of beating his wife was told yesterday he can avoid jail -- provided he remains in counseling, joins a domestic violence group and pays $5,000 to help abused and battered women in Carroll County.Circuit Judge Luke K. Burns Jr. made the offer of probation before judgment in lieu of a jail sentence to the 38-year-old man, who is not being identified to protect the privacy of his estranged wife.According to court records, the man pleaded not guilty to battery charges March 18, agreeing not to oppose the prosecutor's version of the facts.

A $10 increase in Carroll's marriage license fee would raise about $12,000 a year to pay for programs to help victims of domestic violence.Sandra L. Rappeport, Domestic Violence Program director, told the commissioners yesterday that the increase -- from $25 to $35 -- is needed. The commissioners agreed.A public hearing on the increase is scheduled at 3 p.m. tomorrow in Room 300A of the County Office Building in Westminster.The county budget office proposed increasing the marriage license fee in October when the domestic violence program lost an $11,000 grant from the federal Victims of Crime Assistance program.