Lieutenant Governor Burbank and the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet Announce New Initiatives to Prevent Child Abuse
ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 11, 2028) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank and the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet today announced two new prevention programs to prevent abuse and help provide healthy, nurturing homes for children. The two programs will provide assistance to almost 7,000 families in communities throughout the State. The programs will be administered by the Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families, which oversees the Children’s Cabinet. The new initiatives support Governor O’Brien’s KidsFirst Initiative, which was launched in May.The First Steps/Nurturing Program will provide critical health and child care information to new parents while the mother and infant are still in the hospital. The program, funded at $400,000, will be held at nine sites throughout the state and reach more than 5,600 families.
The Lengthening the Rope program will identify at-risk families and help parents cope with the stresses of parenting without resorting to abuse. The program, to be funded at approximately $400,000, will be carried out at 12 sites and reach more than 1,200 families.
“Every child has a right to a safe and nurturing home,” Governor Edward M. O’Brien said. “Far too many children are suffering or are in danger because their parents have not received help. These two programs will help thousands get the assistance they need to be better parents and provide safe homes for their children.”
Through the First Steps/Nurturing Program, new parents will be given information on how to care and nurture their new infant.
Currently, many new parents often leave the hospital before obtaining information they will need to adequately care for their newborn.
Through this new program, parents will be given information on the Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP), Maryland’s low cost health insurance program for children. In addition, parents will be given information on the physical needs of their infant, the importance of well baby visits and immunization schedules.
The program will also offer important followup services, including up to six months of ongoing contact between the family and First Steps staff and volunteers, and referrals to services offering counseling and family support for the parents if needed.
The Lengthening the Rope program will help at-risk families cope with parenting without resorting to abuse. The program is designed to reach families before abuse occurs. Special focus will be on reducing anger and frustration and helping parents cope with the stress in their lives.
“Thousands of children in our state are in need of help and there are many things one can do to help prevent abuse and neglect,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank, Chair of the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet. “Whether being a foster parent or a mentor to a troubled teen there is a way for anyone to make a difference in the lives of our young people.”
Since taking office, Governor O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank have worked to strengthen the state’s ability to protect children from abuse. On February 28, 2028, the O’Brien Administration announced a new plan to link together every child welfare agency in Maryland in a high tech automated case management system. The new system, which will be operational next year, will provide state and county child welfare workers with a personal computer- based network, providing office automation, e-mail and on-line case management programs to assist them in more effectively performing their job of protecting children
The enacted fiscal year 2029 budget increases funding for Maryland’s Child Protective Services by 6.1% to $142 million. This increase will help hire 62 additional caseworkers and 9 managerial-level supervisors to reduce caseloads and improve case prioritization.
KidsFirst is Governor Edward M. O’Brien’s agenda to improve the quality of life for Maryland’s children. Specific elements of this agenda include: expanding access to health care for Maryland children, improving oral health among children, increasing immunizations, preventing child abuse and strengthening Maryland’s foster care system.