CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
HB 10 – Unattended Children Protection Act (Ali and Dumais) pre-filed, 8/28/07. Increases criminal penalties for leaving children unattended in confined spaces – such as providers leaving children in a basement watching TV while out shopping, or in care of an underage teenager. Supported by MD Association for the Education of Young Children (MDAEYC). Hrg 1/17
According to evaluation by Education Week, Maryland’s record for early childhood education moved from 26th place in 2006 to 3rd place in 2007, largely due to the improvements made in that sector. Maryland ranked 9th in actual pre-school enrollment, with an average of 50.8% of 3 and 4 year old children enrolled in pre-school programs in 2006. The Office of Child Care is currently reorganizing and simplifying child care regulations for centers, family child care providers and religious nursery schools that provide child care, so that they will be easier to understand, interpret, and implement. Payment of college tuition for credentialed child care providers, the Professional Development Fund, is on hold until colleges make administrative arrangements in their systems.
All are invited to come to Annapolis on Monday, Feb. 11, at 4PM in the Lowe House Office Building for the Annual Child Care Rally, which will include briefings on legislative and budgetary issues. Contact cross@mdchildcare.org if you would like to reserve a dinner!
The Maryland Association of Local Management Boards, formed in 2007, submitted its first annual report on Oct. 1, 2007, The report highlights the collective efforts of the 24 Local Management Boards (LMB’s) to the House Ways and Means Ctte., Senate Finance Ctte.and the Joint Ctte. on Children Youth and Families. The legislative oversight is intended to ensure the implementation of a local interagency delivery system for children, youth and families that emphasizes prevention, early intervention, and community based services, giving priority to children and families most at risk. The report details the creative strategies and initiatives the local boards have implemented in their respective jurisdictions, some of which are funded by the Children’s Cabinet Interagency Fund, with the support of the Governor’s Office for Children (GOC).
Pat Plunkett