Critical Issues for Children are ACY's Priority for 2012 General Assembly A message from Becky Wagner
Dear Friends,
ACY's mission is to identify problems, promote policies and programs that improve results for Maryland children in measurable and meaningful ways, and evaluate the effectiveness of programs and policies for the state's children and youth.
Maryland’s General Session opened on January 11, and a full 90 days later will complete its business for 2012. As the economy slowly recovers, state revenues also continue to grow at a sluggish pace. However, with the increasing cost and demand for services, the revenue growth does not meet budgetary needs for Maryland. The state has a $1 billion gap between revenues coming in and expected expenditures in fiscal year 2013. The General Assembly will be consumed with this dilemma during the legislative session that began last week.
ACY will be in the front row in Annapolis on behalf of children and we take this work seriously. We must look at the systems which carve-out children from opportunities and bright futures. We must seek to remove regulatory and legislative barriers that unfairly impact fragile, vulnerable neighbors. Finally we must work together to discover new solutions for children and families struggling to make ends meet.
What can you do?
Decide today that you will be part of changing systems for the better, and for the future of our children. In these tough economic times, the stakes are too high to sit on the sidelines when important decisions are being made.
Look carefully at ACY’s core priorities—health, education, child welfare and juvenile justice.
Apply the lens of racial equity and economic sufficiency.
Learn about this important work by examining each section of this newsletter.
Let us know if you want to join a policy team, write a letter, testify before the General Assembly, or make a phone call.
If you think changing the system is important, then you should become a part of ACY’s work. Our challenge is to make our priorities, the priorities of our community and our elected officials. We need you beside us!
