Agency: Train stakeholders on prevention of sex trafficking and the importance of foster children being allowed to live a normal life
The incidence of sex trafficking in the United States is growing. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center received 24,062 “signals,” or reports, of human trafficking in 2014. Of those, nearly 3,600 were related to sex trafficking, up from nearly 3,400…
Agency: Oversee and publicize information about DHR’s implementation of the IV-E Waiver across Maryland
In September 2014, Maryland was awarded a $650 million Title IV-E Waiver grant which allows the Department of Human Resources (DHR) greater flexibility in how it spends its federal Title IV-E child welfare funds over 5 years. DHR has named…
Agency: Facilitate LDSS & Local Education Agencies (LEAs) coming together to increase education stability for foster youth
As a way of improving educational outcomes for foster youth, ACY is working with Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to facilitate agreements that will allow foster youth to remain in their schools even when…
Improve higher education outcomes for foster and homeless youth
Advocates for Children and Youth has partnered with the Public Justice Center and the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth to create the Maryland Higher Education Network (HEN). Our goal is to improve higher education outcomes for…
Improve Higher Education Outcomes for Homeless and Foster Youth
Advocates for Children and Youth has partnered with the Public Justice Center and the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth to create the Maryland Higher Education Network (HEN). Our goal is to improve higher education outcomes for…
Conduct trainings of child welfare stakeholders to facilitate implementation of the Strengthening Families Act
On September 29, 2014, Congress passed the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (P.L. 113-183/HR 4980). This federal law recognizes the tragic link between foster care involvement and becoming a victim of sex trafficking. Many provisions of the bill…
Provide oversight for Department of Human Resource’s implementation of the IV-E Waiver across Maryland
Maryland was awarded a $650 million Title IV-E Waiver grant which allows the Department of Human Resources (DHR) greater flexibility in how it spends its federal Title IV-E child welfare funds. DHR has named the IV-E Waiver "Families Blossom." In…
Facilitate local Departments of Social Services and local education agencies coming together to increase education stability for foster youth and improve their educational outcomes
As a way of improving educational outcomes for foster youth, ACY is working with Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to facilitate agreements that will allow foster youth to remain in their schools even when…
Advocate with the legislature to permit eligible foster youth to receive federal benefits which are currently retained by the state of Maryland
Our work in this area continues. The Department of Human Resources is applying for federal benefits, such as Social Security Survivor and Social Security Disability Insurance, on behalf of certain youth in foster care. The State isn’t notifying the foster…
Implement the Federal Strengthening Families Act in Maryland
In October 2014, Congress passed the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (the Strengthening Families Act). Advocates for Children and Youth is working to ensure that the provisions that become effective in October 2015 are implemented consistent with best…
Work with the Department of Human Resources (DHR) to ensure best practices are used in the implementation of its Title IV-E Waiver Grant
Maryland's Department Human Resources applied for and received a 5 year grant that gives it flexibility to use federal funding that previously was exclusively earmarked for out-of-home services for foster youth. With the waiver, DHR will focus on reducing the number…
Improve Educational Outcomes for Foster Youth
Educational outcomes for foster youth are far below those of their non-system involved peers. There are numerous federal and state laws to improve school stability for foster youth. We are facilitating coordination between Local Departments of Social Services and Local…
Work to improve outcomes for girls involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, as well as determining how to prevent such dual system involvement
Childhood maltreatment is often a strong indicator for future juvenile justice involvement for any youth; however, female youth are particularly vulnerable. Though the population of female youth involved in the delinquency system is often smaller than that of males, a…
Prevent homelessness in youth aging out of foster care
Each year, over 26,000 foster youth “age out” of the child welfare system in the United States. In Maryland, the majority of foster youth over the age of 14—a total of 4,100 at the end of FY 2012—will remain in…
Chair the Coalition to Protect Maryland’s Children
Advocates for Children and Youth is the administrative home for the Coalition to Protect Maryland’s Children (CPMC). We are also the Chair and Secretary of CPMC. CPMC’s mission is “To combine and amplify the power of organizations and citizens working…
Improve Educational Outcomes for Foster Youth
The chaotic nature of foster youth's lives compromises a young person’s ability to concentrate and excel in school. We are actively working to improve both secondary and post-secondary educational outcomes for Maryland’s foster youth. We are collaborating with experts from…
Inform Former and Transitioning Foster Youth in Prince George’s County about Their Rights and Benefits
We are partnering with organizations that work with older youth nearing their emancipation from the child welfare system, as well as with youth who have already emancipated from foster care, to ensure that these young adults know about their rights…
Improve Outcomes for Young Women Involved in Both the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems
Childhood maltreatment is often a strong indicator for future juvenile justice involvement for any youth; however, female youth are particularly vulnerable. Advocates for Children and Youth is committed to making sustainable changes to policy and practice that help girls dually…
Ensure that Alternative Response is Implemented Effectively
Alternative Response is a more collaborative way for the Department of Social Services (DSS) to respond to families with the least serious child abuse and neglect cases. It allows families to better partner with DSS to jointly determine what, if…