Family League engages, informs and collaborates with leaders and policymakers to create an efficient network of opportunities for children and families in Baltimore through policy recommendations at the local, state and national levels.
We believe sharing data helps bring positive and lasting change for Baltimore families.
We recognize that it is critical to approach our work through a racial equity lens. The Racial Equity Analysis Tool supports our efforts to advocate for policy changes in a way that mitigates the impact of racism entrenched in existing structures by accounting for stakeholder input, unintended consequences, root-cause transformational ability, and questions of implementation in the development of legislation.
Foundational to the success of this work is our ability to influence systems and advocate for solid public policy. Our 2020 policy priorities are guided by the eight Maryland Results for Child Well-Being.
“Unfortunately using the word equity has become too prevalent and confused with the practice of diversity. Yes, representation is critically important, but the pure truth of equity lies within the who and the how power is being yielded.”
- Demaune Millard, President & CEO
Family League is taking a deeper approach to our advocacy efforts by rooting our work in the Community Health Needs Assessment, developed in partnership with Morgan State University’s School of Community Health and Policy and through the generous support of the Bainum Family Foundation and the Goldseker Foundation.
Concerns that were recurring themes in conversations with various segments of stakeholders included: crime, education, housing and food access, transportation, public health, jobs/employment, inequity in community, family-focused supports, structural racism, supports for immigrant communities.
PRIORITIES 2021–2024
Through our Strategic Planning Process, we have prioritized three of the eight areas of Maryland’s Results for Child Well-Being from the Governor’s Office for Children.
CHILDREN ARE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL
Family League supports policy that improves student attendance, supports high-quality expanded learning opportunities and improves school climate.
FAMILIES ARE SAFE & ECONOMICALLY STABLE
Family League supports policy that provides equitable access to a living wage and opportunities for economic security.
COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES
Family League supports policy that ensures safe environments that allow children and families to thrive.
BABIES BORN HEALTHY
Family League supports policy to achieve healthy birth outcomes; specifically decreased infant and maternal mortality. Click for our recent testimony in support of SB 59 Safe Sleep for Infants and HB177 Hospital Care for Infants After Discharge.
CHILDREN ARE HEALTHY
Family League advocates for policy that removes barriers to access to nutritious meals and supports programming focused on healthy lifestyles.
CHILDREN ENTER SCHOOL READY TO LEARN
Family League supports policy that addresses key drivers to increasing school readiness by kindergarten.
CHILDREN WILL COMPLETE SCHOOL
Family League advocates for policy that supports reduction in dropout rates among high school-aged youth.
YOUTH WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE OR CAREER READINESS
Family League advocates for policy that provides supports for youth-focused workforce development.
MARYLAND RESULTS FOR CHILD WELL-BEING
Family League understands the interdependence of all the Results Areas of Child Well-Being. We will continue to work with our partners and the community to improve outcomes across all domains. Check out our impact across all result areas.
RESULTS FOR CHILD WELL-BEING
OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME (PANDEMIC)
CHILD WELL-BEING RESULTS AREAS
POLICY PRIORITIES
- Extend Summer Camp licensing through the state of emergency.
- Bring back EPCC (Emergency Personnel Child Care) Program.
- Incentivize and encourage school and community partnership where school personnel are supervising external partners in a variety of program models.
- Create waivers that expand COMAR exemptions to Y’s, Boys & Girls Clubs and local government-funded and -operated programs that have program standards and accountability consistent with camp regulations.
CHILD CARE (PANDEMIC)
CHILD WELL-BEING RESULTS AREAS
POLICY PRIORITIES
- Direct grants to child care providers
- Restoration of child care scholarship/voucher payments to providers based on enrollment (rather than attendance) from the Maryland State Department of Education.
- Coordinated procurement of masks, face shields, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, antibacterial soap, and other PPEs for child care providers.
- Additional state funds for the network of child care resource centers to provide business support and coaching to child care providers.
- Publicly funded care options for school-age children OR subsidies to parents to pay for the unexpected expense of child care for school-age children.
EDUCATION
CHILD WELL-BEING RESULTS AREAS
POLICY PRIORITIES
- Strengthening the Community School Strategy through the funding of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future
- Addressing the digital divide through increased funding for school districts and the expansion of the Governor’s Rural Broadband Office to include Baltimore City
- Addressing School Year 21 enrollment loss through a hold-harmless bill, using 2019 count unless 2020 is higher
- Addressing Student Discipline through a bill that would remove SROs and redirect investments to mental health supports
- Securing funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities
POLICE REFORM / CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CHILD WELL-BEING RESULTS AREAS
POLICY PRIORITIES
- Diversion of crises calls to appropriate community resources
- “The implementation of recommendations included in the final report of the Workgroup to Address Police Reform and Accountability
CHILD WELFARE
CHILD WELL-BEING RESULTS AREAS
POLICY PRIORITIES
- Disaggregation of child welfare data by race and ethnicity
- Expanding Tuition Waiver to foster and unaccompanied homeless youth
- Gender expression protections for youth in foster care
ECONOMIC SECURITY
CHILD WELL-BEING RESULTS AREA
POLICY PRIORITIES
- Support of the Time to Care Act providing paid family leave
- Support of the re-introduction of a bill to expand eligibility for the Earn Income Tax Credit to people without qualifying children
- Support of equitable access to Transportation by securing MTA funding
- Access to banking for unaccompanied and homeless youth
FOOD ACCESS
CHILD WELL-BEING RESULTS AREAS
POLICY PRIORITIES
- Support efforts to increase SNAP benefits for people already receiving utility assistance
HOUSING
CHILD WELL-BEING RESULTS AREAS
POLICY PRIORITIES
- Support for eviction prevention
- Advocating for increased affordable housing stock
HEALTH
CHILD WELL-BEING RESULTS AREAS
POLICY PRIORITIES
- Support for maintaining the expansion of telehealth access
- Advocating for legislation to address Lead Poisoning
- Support for the Maryland Medicaid Doula study
IMMIGRATION
CHILD WELL-BEING RESULTS AREAS
POLICY PRIORITIES
- Support for maintaining the expansion of telehealth access
- Advocating for legislation to address Lead Poisoning
- Support for the Maryland Medicaid Doula study
