ACY 2012 Priorities
ACY's mission is to identify problems, promote policies and programs
that improve results for Maryland's children in measurable and meaningful ways,
and evaluate the effectiveness of programs and policies for the state's children and youth.
Child Welfare
• Increase services to prevent child maltreatment so that fewer families will need intervention by local departments of social services.
• Acquire data regarding outcomes for children and families who were involved with the child welfare system from the Department of Human Resources to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.
• Create a new system of response for less serious child abuse and neglect cases where the local department works with families voluntarily and builds on that family’s strengths and support systems.
• Support legislation and budget priorities that address efforts to keep children with their families and receive services in their homes rather than being placed in out-of-home placements.
Juvenile Justice
• Lead and assist stakeholders across the State to pursue strategies to reduce school-based arrests.
• Create and implement specialized training for school-based law enforcement and school resource officers.
• Explore having written agreements between schools and school-based law enforcement that define the officers’ role within the school setting.
• Reduce the State’s use of detention for youth awaiting court proceedings and placement.
• Ensure that treatment opportunities are available for older youth (17-20) in the juvenile justice system.
Health
• Pass a Health Benefit Exchange bill during the legislative session that meets the needs of children and families.
• Ensure that the eligibility technology being developed by the State facilitates seamless enrollment and transitions between programs.
• Ensure that the new Navigator Program addresses the needs of underserved populations.
• Convening Partner, Maryland Supermarket and Grocery Campaign, bringing healthy, affordable food to under-served neighborhoods, improving family nutrition and fighting childhood obesity.
• Ensure that Maryland’s Oral Health Messaging Campaign reaches the State’s most vulnerable populations and improves oral health outcomes for children.
Education
• Advocate for best practices as the Maryland Board of Education’s State discipline code is developed.
• Monitor the selection of a new Superintendent of Schools in Maryland.
• Examine Maryland schools data to identify effective classroom practices with the purpose of informing policy, practice or needed legislation.
• Serve as a bridge between City and State school systems using data and policies, for the purpose of convening, strengthening and building coalitions for a unified voice in critical areas for education.
|
