Quality Care Strengthens Families
April is Strengthening Families Month. One of the best ways to celebrate, protect, and educate young children is through quality child care.
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Grandparents Can Help Reduce Stress
When grandparents can help with child care, mothers are less likely to struggle with depression. When that’s the case, mothers are also less likely to be prescribed antidepressants, according to a new report from Finland. They say this is especially true for single moms.
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Maryland Respite Care Program (Maryland Department of Human Services)
Grandparents may have a significant impact on a mom’s mental health, study shows (CNN)
Strengthening Families Month 2024
Strengthening Families Month is a chance to remind the community about ways families can build safe and nurturing environments and prevent child maltreatment.
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Strengthening Families (Center for the Study of Social Policy)
Knowing the Protective Factors (Prevent Child Abuse America)
Child Care Unites Us
All we hear these days is how far apart the nation’s two major political parties are. What if I told you there’s an issue that we all agree on? Child care.
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The First Five Things To Know About: A New Poll Showing Voter Support For Child Care Funding (The First 5 Years Fund)
Child Care Expansions Are Making a Difference for Maryland’s Economy
A new report commissioned by MFN finds that reforms to the Child Care Scholarship Program, enacted by the General Assembly over the last six years, have made a big difference in the lives of children and their families.
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Support for Homeless Families
Children who are homeless or facing housing insecurity are at a greater risk of social and emotional challenges than many others.
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Maryland Families Spending Upwards of 32% of Income on Child Care
For many, child care is too expensive. The high cost can keep adults out of the workforce and cause children to fall behind their wealthier peers. Maryland Family Network’s 2024 Child Care Demographics shows just how expensive care is.
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MFN's 2024 Child Care Demographics (Maryland Family Network)
Housing Disruption
Moving frequently due to financial insecurity is disruptive to families in many ways. Still, one that might surprise you, is that moving often can make it hard to access public assistance programs. That can hurt a child’s chances for success in the long run.
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Johns Hopkins Children’s Center Study Finds Cost-Driven Housing Moves Lead to Disruptions in Federal Assistance Programs (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
Moving Due to Eviction, Rising Rent Can Disrupt Government Health Aid (Bloomberg)
Relocation Assistance Programs for Low-Income Families (Architecture+Design)
Hungry for the Rhythm
Believe it or not, newborn babies can perceive the beat of music. Today, we explain why this is important for much more than just an early appreciation of music.
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Newborn babies can perceive the beat in music, study shows (Medical Press)
How Many More
Child care is expensive. We know that. But the Maryland Comptroller’s office just issued a first of its kind report with some alarming news. The price of care is costing Marylanders more than money.