2012 General Assembly Results in Progress for Maryland’s Children
ACY saw progress for Maryland’s Children as the work of legislators and advocates yielded positive outcomes for our children during the 2012 General Assembly.
Read further to understand more about
• Alternative Response: families and children will have access to services before they are broken apart;
• The Maryland Health Exchange Bill: moving forward to provide affordable health care for children and their families;
• The Maintenance of Effort: ensuring fair and equitable funding for education for all of Maryland’s children;
• Moving in the right direction to keep youth out of detention and to afford all court-involved minors with certain services and protections.
And there are the quiet victories that will be important every day for hungry children: 20,000 more low income children will receive breakfast at school through increased funding for Maryland Meals for Achievement.
We thank you for your efforts on behalf of our children. Coalitions were working together in all of our issue areas: Children Welfare, Education, Juvenile Justice and Health. One person or one group cannot accomplish what we need to do in partnership. Letters, emails, testimony and phone calls came from advocates, members of our Boards of Directors, our community based organizations and the faith community. Together we are a convincing and dynamic voice for Maryland’s children!
Child Welfare 2012 Post-Legislative Session Child Welfare Wrap Up
This year was a very successful Legislative Session for Advocates for Children and Youth. A number of bills passed which will improve life for children and families involved in the child welfare system. All of the major child welfare bills we focused on passed. To read our testimony on all of the bills we supported,Read more>>
Education
General Assembly Leaves Unfinished Business in Education
The Maryland General Assembly was about to embark on a successful year for education. Improved school financing legislation had been passed. A plan to ensure the inflationary increase was in the budget and a careful approach to shifting of the teacher pensions had been made. The Baltimore City delegation achieved an agreement for additional resources for school facilities…and then the floor fell out from under us. In the last few hours of session, disagreements over non-budget related issues threw the budget into chaos and no deal was voted on. What was voted on was a doomsday budget that has between $100 million and $200 million in cuts to education.Read more>>
Juvenile Justice General Assembly Takes Steps to Improve Course for System-Involved Youth
Youth justice advocates are optimistic following the conclusion of Maryland’s 2012 General Assembly and believe that key steps were taken to improve the course for system-involved youth. Several youth-justice-related bills passed. Bills that did not pass evoked thoughtful debate that suggests juvenile justice system reform in Maryland is moving in the right direction. Additionally, the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), the agency responsible for youth tried in adult court, were asked to produce reports and studies for the General Assembly that will reveal data and findings that will help these agencies better serve youth in their custody and improve public safety.Read more>>
Health Maryland Moves Forward on Health Care Reform
Maryland has become a bell-weather nationally for implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The State’s leadership was demonstrated once again as legislators, the Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform, the Lt. Governor, DHMH and stakeholders came together to address differences and refine legislation on the Health Benefit Exchange. Advocates for Children and Youth (ACY) has been proud to participate as the voice for Maryland’s children in deliberations around the Exchange, dental benefits and other implementation efforts.Read more>>
Kudos
Senator Kelley, Delegate Luedtke, and Delegate Wilson for sponsoring successful legislation that will increase school stability for youth in foster care.
The Coalition to Protect Maryland’s Children for supporting a number of successful bills that will improve life for youth and families involved with the child welfare system.
DHR Secretary Dallas for working with the child welfare stakeholders prior to session to draft an Alternative Response bill with wide support.
Stop the Youth Jail Alliance for preventing capital dollars from going into the FY2013 budget for construction of a new youth jail.
Just Kids Partnership for securing a report from DJS that will detail ways DJS can house youth currently tried in adult court.
