The number of children in foster care has dropped by more than 40 percent over the past 8 years. To safely sustain and accelerate this trend, more parents need in-home services. Marylanders overwhelmingly support providing more supportive services to at-risk families to keep more children out of the foster care system.

2013 Policy Priorities

• Implement Alternative Response consistent with best practices including a robust evaluation and thorough training.
  
  
• Assess the capacity and funding streams for Baltimore City’s in-home service providers to determine whether there are any gaps in necessary services.
  
  
• Promoting single system solutions for dually-involved girls: research ways to reduce the number of girls from the neglect system becoming involved in the delinquency system.
  
  
• Build a network to prevent homelessness in youth aging out of foster care in Prince George’s County.
  
  
• Coalition Building: help bring together various child welfare stakeholders to improve outcomes for youth and families involved in the child welfare system.
  

Updates

2013 Legislative Priorities

Advocates for Children and Youth is focusing on several issues during this legislative session. Read more >>

For Melissa Rock’s testimony in Support of Senate Bill 1010- Children with Developmental Disabilities in State Custody- Continuation of Placement and Services, click here.

For Melissa Rock's testimony in Support of
House Bill 823– Task Force to Study Housing and Supportive Services for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth, click here.

For Melissa Rock's testimony in Support of
House Bill 1013 – Foster Care Recipients – Waiver of Tuition and Other Charges, click here.

For Melissa Rock's testimony in Support, as Amended, of House Bill 1012- Higher Education – Tuition Waiver– Foster Care Recipients, click here.

For Melissa Rock's testimony in Support of
House Bill 1125- Victims of Crime – Identity Theft Passport – Children, click here.

For Melissa Rock's testimony in Support of
House Bill 1320– Baltimore City and Baltimore County - Child in Need of Supervision Pilot Program - Increase, Allocation, and Extension, click here.

For Melissa Rock's testimony in Support of
House Bill 1286- Education – Due Process Hearings for Children with Disabilities – Burden of Proof, click here.

For Melissa Rock's testimony on Senate Bill 691- Education – Due Process Hearings for Children with Disabilities – Burden of Proof, click here.

Melissa Rock's Testimony in support of Senate Bill 388-Victims of Crime – Identity Theft Passport – Children, click here.

For Melissa Rock’s testimony in support of House Bill 245- Family Law - Substance-Exposed Newborns, click here.

Unique Risk Factors Signal Dual Involvement for Female Youth in
Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems

Youth who experience childhood maltreatment are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior and become involved in the juvenile justice system. Although the relationship between maltreatment and delinquency is well established, little research has addressed the specific risk factors and unique experiences of youth, particularly female youth, who are involved in both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
This increased risk warrants extra attention from child welfare and juvenile justice professionals. To better understand and serve this population, Advocates for Children and Youth will publish several briefs on the experiences of crossover youth in Maryland. As the first of several publications, this brief will provide an overview of existing research, outline some of the unique risk factors of female crossover youth generally, and highlight trends of female youth involved with the juvenile justice system in Maryland.
Read more >>

Graduation and Foster Youth

Commentary: Are We a New Normal?

MORE CHILD WELFARE UPDATES