Adoptions Together, Inc.
$299,859 / 2012 / Health and Human Services
For continued support of the Family Find Step Down Project, which is committed to achieving permanency for 135 children who are currently in Baltimore City foster care. Working closely with the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, Adoptions Together identifies and recruits family members and others who may be interested in adoption, and provides placement, preparation, and post-placement counseling and support services.
Advocates for Children and Youth
$80,000 / 2012 / Health and Human Services
Toward continued support of staffing and activities that will improve the outcomes of Baltimore City children in the child welfare system. Priorities include increasing in-house services for at-risk families in order to prevent the removal of children from the home; providing input and guidance to Maryland’s Alternative Response practice model; and conducting an analysis of girls involved in both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
Advocates for Children and Youth
$35,000 / 2012 / Health and Human Services
Toward costs of a campaign to educate youth transitioning out of foster care about health insurance available to them. The campaign will inform decision-makers about a provision of the new Affordable Care Act, which extends health insurance to former foster youth until they reach age 26.
Alternative Directions, Inc.
$35,000 / 2012 / Criminal Justice and Addiction
Challenge grant toward expansion of the Hand in Hand pre-release and re-entry program for juveniles in Baltimore City. The intent of the program is to ensure that participants are enrolled in an educational program and attain employment within a month of release, and that 80 percent of participants receive their GEDs within 18 months of enrollment.
American Communities Trust
$65,000 / 2012 / Education
For implementation of the Baltimore Scholar Athlete Program in three Baltimore City Public Schools. Support is provided through counseling, coaching, mentoring, and SAT preparation. In each school, a dedicated resource space, known as the “Zone,” is equipped with laptops, printers, e-readers, Internet access, mailboxes, calculators, and electronic membership cards for student-scholars to use on a daily basis. Data are collected on attendance; GPA; athletic participation rates; and graduation, college-acceptance, and matriculation rates.