How Employees of State and Local Government Agencies Should Work with Participants in the Maryland Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program (ACP)
Accepting the Substitute Address
By law, State and local government agencies must accept the Maryland Safe at Home substitute address for any public record unless the agency has received prior approval from the Secretary of State for a waiver or statutory exception. Agency employees cannot insist that ACP participants reveal their residential address in any public record as doing so will give the abuser the ability to find their victim. The substitute address uses the following format for regular, 1st class correspondence:
Participant Name
ACP Number
P.O. Box 2995
Annapolis, MD 21404-2995
Verification
State and local government agency employees may request verification of
1. Program Participation by
- asking for and making a copy of the participant's Authorization Card (see box below for more information on the ACP Authorization Card), or
The laminated card, issued by the ACP Office, shows the participant's name, substitute address, unique ACP authorization number, their birth date, and expiration date. Also the card has the ACP Office phone number, 410-260-3875, 800-633-9657 x 3875. A photocopy of the authorization card may be placed in the participant's agency file and shall serve as confirmation of ACP participation. The authorization card is not, however, a legal form of identification. |
- contacting the ACP Office directly at 410-260-3875, 800-633-9657 x 3875, or
- emailing a request to Safe At Home
2. County of Residence (so the participant can apply for services) by
- contacting the ACP Office directly at 410-260-3875, 800-633-9657 x 3875, or
- emailing a request to Safe At Home
Note, participant permission is required in order for the ACP Office to verify their county of residence.
For Those Working in Maryland's K-12 schools please click here for more information.