The Charles County Department of Social Services Website has been created to provide information to citizens and to provide an efficient method to communicate with partner agencies and personnel. We take data security and the privacy of any personal information you provide very seriously.
Maryland law mandates that State agencies may not create personal records unless the need for the information is clearly established and that those records are relevant to the purposes for which they were collected, that they are accurate and current, and were not obtained by fraudulent means. In accordance with Maryland’s Public Information Act (State Government Article, Section 10-601, et seq.), we are notifying you that this website collects user data for purposes of monitoring system use and responding to requests for service.
The information is of the type normally and automatically transmitted during the Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) request process, and as voluntarily provided on online forms and email messages solely for the purpose(s) stated. Failure to provide such information consequentially disallows provision of web content and response to Internet-based information requests.
Inspection, amendment and correction of all records, along with the availability of this information to the public or any other entity, is governed by the Maryland Public Information Act and applicable State and federal law. The Department of Human Resources is committed to providing you with Internet services by which you may securely and confidently transact business with the State. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact the Webmaster.
Information We Collect
When you visit our website, we automatically collect and store certain information about your visit. This information does not identify you personally. We automatically collect and store only the following information about your visit:
- The Internet domain and IP address from which you access our website.
- The type of browser and operating system used to access our site.
- The date and time you access our site.
- The pages you visit.
- If you linked to our website from another website, the address of that website.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to count the number and type of visitors to the different pages on our site, and to help us make our site more useful to visitors like you. If you choose to provide us with personal information by sending an email or by filling out a form with your personal information and submitting it through our website, we use that information to respond to your message and to help us provide you with the information that you requested.
Data Security
We take reasonable precautions to protect your personal information and ensure that it is not lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed. We use industry-standard encryption and security protocols to safeguard your data during transmission and storage.
Your Rights
In accordance with the Maryland Public Information Act, you have the right to:
- Inspect any public record that we maintain about you.
- Request an amendment or correction of any inaccurate or incomplete personal record.
- Be informed about how your personal information is being used.
Cookies and Tracking
Our website may use "cookies" to enhance your experience. A cookie is a small text file that a website saves on your computer or mobile device when you visit the site. You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns about our Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal information, please contact:
Charles County Department of Social Services
200 Kent Avenue
La Plata, Maryland 20646
Email: charlescounty.communications@maryland.gov